Are you Married in real life, yet Single Online?

http://gty.im/75299056

3.  Don’t make consistent posts WITHOUT including your spouse.

This may seem like a silly rule to some, but I’ve heard from too many who have disregarded this rule, only to end up hurting their spouse and damaging their marriage.  When we constantly post pics and content all about ourselves, our hobbies, our friends, our kids, our likes/dislikes, our travels, etc.–and we never include our spouse–there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.  

When we disregard this rule, we end up projecting an image of a life that is essentially spouseless–like refusing to wear a wedding ring.  It’s confusing to our “friends/followers” on social media, but most of all, it’s hurtful to our spouse.

We must be willing to take a long, hard look at how we are managing our social media.  If we scroll through our wall on Facebook (or our feed on Instagram) and find that there are very little pics, posts, comments, or tags that involve our spouse, then we need to ask ourselves why.  Why portray a life without our spouse online?  We must be brutally honest with ourselves and our spouse about this.

These questions may help you get to the heart of the issue:

Am I wanting to flirt and have some semblance of relational “freedom” online?  

Am I ashamed of my spouse and family situation?  

Am I being prideful?  

Am I trying to hurt my spouse?

If you realize that this is something you are struggling with, then I encourage you to sit down with your spouse and apologize.  Admit that how you’ve been handling your social media has not been appropriate or respectful to him/her.  Ask your spouse what you can do to make it up to him/her, and be willing to make positive changes and embrace healthy boundaries that will protect your marriage and build your spouse’s trust.

http://sixseeds.patheos.com/ashleywillis/are-you-phubbing-your-spouse/

The pics and content we post online aren’t  just a social media issue.  This is a heart issue that will play out in all areas of our marriage, so it’s important that we address and resolve these misconceptions as soon as possible.  If this continues to be a point of contention in our marriage, we might need to close down our social media accounts for awhile to focus on rebuilding trust and respect for one another.  And, we will save our marriage from a world of hurt and frustration in the process.

Looking for a fun and practical way to strengthen your marriage?  Take our 7 Day Marriage Challenge and purchase the husband and wife books below (and get FREE videos to go along with them).