Curated by the LissnUp Editorial Team
Social Media
Overview
Every relationship you're in now has a digital layer. What your partner liked. What your friend didn't reply to. What the family group chat is currently arguing about. What your ex is still posting, six months after you both agreed to move on. That layer bleeds into the real relationship — sometimes quietly, sometimes explosively, always taking up more of both of your attention than either of you wants to admit. The writing here is about what social media is doing to how we actually relate: the jealousy sparked by a single like, the fight that started in comments and moved into the kitchen, the group chat you can't leave without offending someone, the partner whose phone has become a third party in the relationship. Curated by the LissnUp Editorial Team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does something as small as a partner liking someone's photo bother me so much?
Because your brain reads it in context — not just the like, but who they liked, what it might mean, whether it fits a pattern. Sometimes that pattern is real and worth taking seriously; sometimes it's your own history filling in a story that isn't there. Talking it out with a neutral listener before confronting your partner often clarifies which.
Should I stop looking at my ex's social media?
Almost always yes. Research on post-breakup 'Facebook rumination' consistently shows that continued exposure to an ex's content prolongs distress and delays recovery. Unfollowing/muting is easier than blocking; blocking is easier than willpower. The urge to check is real; the payoff is negative almost every time.
How do I handle a group chat that never sleeps?
You have permission to mute, step back, or leave — even if it feels socially uncomfortable. Chats have gravity but they aren't obligatory. Muting notifications and checking on your own schedule usually preserves the connection without the always-on cost. If leaving would blow up the relationships, being heard about the specific dynamic often makes the next step clearer.
My partner is on their phone constantly. How do I bring it up?
Not as a complaint about their behavior — as an observation about the relationship. 'I've been feeling disconnected lately' opens differently than 'You're always on your phone.' Pick a moment when neither of you is tired. Say what you want (more attention, phone-free meals, a specific ritual) rather than only what's wrong. Rehearsing the conversation with a neutral listener first often helps.
Talk about the person who's on your mind — off the record.
Book a 15-minute session with a trained listener — anonymous, confidential, no advice, no record kept. Nothing you say gets stored, screenshotted, or leaks back into someone's DMs. The relief of unfiltered honesty about someone in your life, without any of the fallout.