Ten Facebook Rules for Married Couples
Good, practical suggestions for the digital age from Trey Morgan below:
Facebook has become hugely popular in recent years. Lea and I both love being able to catch up with old friends and family. But like almost anything that comes along, Facebook can also present dangers and problems if not used responsibly. Here are 10 guidelines for married couples that Lea and I talked about and I’d like to share.
- Don’t spend more time on Facebook than you should. How much time is that? It depends on what your spouse says. Communicate with your spouse and ask them, “Am I spending too much time online?” You want to make sure your spouse is your #1 relationship, not your buddies on Facebook. Pursue your spouse more than you pursue online relationships. Don’t Facebook during “couple” time. (Husbands: when your wife asks you to watch a movie with her, do you Facebook through it? Wives: do you Facebook every night instead of going to bed with your husband?)
- NEVER hide things from your spouse on Facebook. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it 1,000 more times: openness and honestly is the glue of your marriage. When you start hiding friendships, conversations, chat sessions and comments from your spouse, that is unhealthy. If you’re not allowing your spouse to know what you’re doing on Facebook or online, that’s a sign that you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing.
- Share your Facebook password with your spouse. I share every password with my wife … from my Facebook account to every e-mail address I have. Why would I want to do that? It’s called trust and accountability. Knowing my wife can open my laptop at anytime and read anything I’m doing, or see any place I’ve gone, keeps me accountable. Don’t hide things from your spouse. Make sure you regularly tell them, “You are welcome to see what I’m doing anytime.”
- NEVER befriend anyone of the opposite sex that your spouse is uncomfortable with. Think twice before befriending an old boyfriend or girlfriend. Simple communication with your spouse about this is best.
- Defriend anyone who crosses normal boundaries. If someone is saying things, doing things or asking questions online that make you uncomfortable OR would make you uncomfortable in person, then that’s not a good sign. Listen to the little voice in your head. If something tells you “this isn’t right,” then it’s probably not. Never be ashamed or afraid to defriend someone that may have ulterior motives.
- If you’re married, PROUDLY set your “Relationship Status” to married. I wish there was a “Happily Married” status or, for that matter, an “I’m madly in love with my incredibly gorgeous wife.” I’d change my status to that in a heartbeat.
- Post pictures of you and your spouse on your Facebook, or use a “couple” picture as your profile picture.
- Don’t be afraid to proclaim your love for your spouse on Facebook. Someone of the opposite sex won’t question your love for your spouse if you occasionally brag on your spouse on your Facebook status. It’s healthy to brag on your spouse, and occasionally doing it in public conveys your love for your spouse to the world. It doesn’t bother me one drop to tell the world just how much I love my wife. At the same time, I would NEVER use my status to complain about my spouse. Not smart!
- Think before you type. Don’t make comments on statuses and pictures of other people that come across as suggestive.
- No matter how many friends you have on Facebook, remember that your #1 friend should be your spouse. Strive to better that relationship on a daily basis. Work 1,000 times harder to grow in your marriage relationship than you do at finding friends on Facebook. NEVER take your relationship with your spouse for granted. The last thing you want is 1,000 Facebook friends, while the love between you and your best friend slowly dies out.
Can you think of any Facebook rules for married couples that I might have missed?
Excellent rules. I had to counsel a young woman not long ago on this very subject. She was very surprised when I told her my hubby can get on and read my fb pages. And that I block or delete anyone he is uncomfortable with. And this is done not because he has power over me haha he gave that up looooonnnnnggggg ago. But because I love and respect him.
Thanks for the good comment, Bonnie. Love and respect. Two key words in any successful marriage. No doubt about it.
Thanks for reading!
thank you for the article. I deleted anyone other than close friends and family, especially those of the opposite sex, thankfully I rejected ex girlfriends and anyone who has a bad influence on me and my marriage.
im not all that good or familier with computers kinda makes me mad or upset.I love my wife so much words cant explain.I seen lots of arguments and cheating followed with divorce and told my self we came this far along with out a computer all never buy one.LESS PROBLEMS well spoke to soon were both 31years old and have 3 children together my kids told me that everybody has a computer and then i asked everybody i came acros 98% said yes+ i didnt want my kids not to have a chance to lern about computers so i bought one and they love it and way smarter than me on the computer.NOW MY WIFE CANT STOP WITH FACEBOOK OR WHATEVER U CALL IT … KINDA LIKE COFFIE 1ST THING IN MORNING BEFOR I GO TO WORK SHES ON AND WHEN I GET HOME PRETTY SAME,SOMETIMES I THINK SHES LISTENING TO ME BUT NO SHES NOT AND WALK AWAY .I HAD TOLD HERE IF SHES LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY PLEAS TELLL ME AND ALL LEAVE FOR GOOD …HOPE FOR THE BEST ,PREPAIR FOR THE WORST…SHES THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPENED TO ME I DONT WANT TO LOOSE THAT
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