In today’s world of social media, our love stories have taken on a whole new flavor. Those days of quietly savoring special moments with our beloved are long gone. Love has found a new stage, and it’s right there on the digital platforms we use every day. This shift has introduced us to some intriguing new love rituals, like making “official announcements” and engaging in a bit of “self-erasure” when it comes to our romantic escapades.
The “Official Announcement” of Love
One of the most exciting love rituals of our generation is the “official announcement” of romantic relationships on social media. This practice has become the norm, whether you’re a regular person or a famous celebrity.
The ritual goes something like this:
Let’s talk about John and Emily, two lovebirds deeply enamored with each other. They decided to let the online world in on their love story with an adorably mushy Instagram post. Their picture-perfect snap showed them wrapped in a warm embrace on a pristine beach, accompanied by a loving caption.
The post quickly racked up hundreds of likes and comments, with friends and family offering heartfelt congratulations. But this digital showcase isn’t just about professing their affection for each other; it’s about sharing that love with the whole online community. In essence, the relationship becomes part of their collective digital identity, an expression of the merger of personal and online lives.
The “Self-Erasure” After Heartbreak
But here’s the twist: the same platforms that witness the birth of these love stories also witness the inevitable endings. When relationships unravel, the digital traces of that love remain as poignant reminders of what once was. This is where the “self-erasure” love ritual comes into play.
Take John and Emily’s situation, for instance. After a year dating, they decided to part ways, and their Instagram profiles silently narrated the story of their love’s journey from inception to conclusion. Quietly, they updated their relationship status to “single” and erased all traces of their time together. That cozy beach photo that had once showcased their love was replaced with new solo shots, each highlighting their individual paths. This subtle yet potent act of self-erasure on social media marked the end of their love story.
However, it’s not just about individuals erasing the memories of past love; it’s also about a transformation in their relationship with the online world. Friends and family take note of these changes, leading to questions and speculations. The dissolution of a digital love story can spark discussions and add another layer to the already complex process of healing post-breakup.
So, in a nutshell, social media has introduced a unique love ritual. Love is no longer confined to hushed, private exchanges; it’s a public performance on online stages. The fusion of love and technology has ushered in a new era where expressions of love are just as conspicuous as the discreet acts of self-erasure. These love rituals offer a distinctive perspective on love in the digital age, where relationships begin, end, and individuals rediscover themselves in a perpetually evolving digital world.
I find this blog interesting because on the other hand, celebrating your loved one has always been a spectacle. A long time ago, the biggest celebration one could have was weddings, it was the perfect opportunity to show off wealth, style and of course, your successful life
And if one of them sadly passed, the widowed would have to be in a routined “mourning period”, professing and showcasing their grief for up to 2 years ( however this, of course, isn’t a global concept). I think now more than ever are people eloping or not even marrying at all. Interesting topic!
Really interesting perspective! This reminded me of the existence of a ‘soft launch’, which I suppose could also be considered a modern love ritual—the process of introducing a loved one through ambiguous or mysterious photos where you see a table set for two instead of one or an unfamiliar hand in the background before posting photos showing off a partner. It is this idea of teasing a new relationship like it’s a product launch, very unique to our generation, I would say.
Interesting post! It made me think about how there lies a paradox within the digital age heartbreak. On one hand, we experience breakup and we might not need to dwell in sadness as there are so many distractions at the tips of our fingers, the next best thing waiting around the corner. On the other hand, if we do not remove all of our memorabilia of our cherished times together, we might end up seeing some digital remains here and there, once in a while, not fully allowing us to heal and move on. Like those memes of people getting phone-generated videos with piano music in the background of someone they are no longer in contact with. So we kind of have the ability to be as distracted as possible, yet we also might have to make the conscious effort to delete any traces of digital memories. Bringing our relationships, whether platonic or not, to the digital world truly does add another layer to already complex processes.