Many people jump at the opportunity to remove or block their ex from their Facebook account as soon as the opportunity presents itself. It is usually a decision made in the heat of the moment, fueled by anger or grievance. But would it be more strategic to let your ex see what you’re up to for a while, before shutting them out of your digital world altogether? There are obvious pros and cons associated with removing them or maintaining your digital friendship.
It’s easy to get mad at the person you just broke up with, run home, log on Facebook and have the great pleasure of removing them from your friends list. So, let’s break down the pros and cons of maintaining your ex’s digital friendship. immediately after a dissolve. You can then decide for yourself which course of action best suits your situation or circumstance.
So, let’s start with the positives associated with waiting to click the ‘delete’ button:
- You’ll be able to stay on top of where they are, what they’re doing, and who they’re doing it with by seeing their check-ins, photos, and posts uploaded to your page. This could be very useful if you move in similar circles and want to avoid “bumping into” them at a popular bar or restaurant.
- They may be the type to express their emotions digitally by posting on their wall how they’ve been affected by the breakup. This can give you insight into their personality or feelings that they may not be able to show in person and/or clarify the situation if it had ended abruptly.
- You’ll see what their friends are saying and what their friends are saying to them, which can provide valuable insight into the breakup that you might not otherwise have the privilege of knowing in person. You may be very surprised at what can be made public after your friends think it’s over with you.
Breakups can be hard enough without having to watch chatter in cyberspace about the whole ordeal, so what are the negatives associated with leaving them on the buddy list?
- You may be exposed to discussions and/or images that you may not want to hear or see. Examples might be your ex out on the town meeting people and partying while you’re home feeling miserable. This can hurt and won’t do you any good in the healing process, especially if they broke up with you!
- He or she has the ability to track your every move and may even choose to “randomly” meet you and your friends when you’re out of town. This would be a nightmare if you were the one who ended things and wanted to move on and meet someone new. Cyberbullying is alive and well these days, people!
- They can still comment on your pages, images, and posts; we all know how that can end after they’ve had a few drinks. Oh darling!
Facebook It has become a main form of communication for many people these days, however, it does have its drawbacks. Depending on the circumstances of your breakup and based on the pros and cons discussed above, there aren’t many benefits to maintaining a Facebook friendship with your ex, as tempting as it may be.
At the end of the day, breakups don’t happen unless something is “broken,” so why not put the past behind you and focus on meeting that next special someone and moving on with the rest of your life? Facebook can continue to be a safe and happy place to continue enjoying with your family and friends!
Visit www.yourpathtohappiness.com to learn more about dating, relationships, and personal development.