Relationship Statuses

So I have a friend, we'll call him "Mr.W". I remember him telling me about a special time in his life. The following is close enough to the conversation we had.

-
W: Yo, Peteskies, homeslice, P-toro, I have news!
O: Yeah? What kind of news? You didn't air drum a free concert to a bunch of strangers again, did you?
W: No no, not this time. I'm in a relationship...
O: Yeah?!
W: We met at a party, everyone was gathered by a computer, and... Let's just say we're official, and we're going steady.
O: ...well, congrats!
W: Thanks.
O: Do I know this person? Will you introduce me?
W: Oh, you already know. It's Facebook.
O: Facebook?
W: Yeah man, I'm networking with a social network.
-

So parts of this conversation really did take place, whilst other parts did not. I suppose it's one of those "had to be there" moments. It does say something about how Facebook plays into our relationship statuses.

Remembering a scene from The Social Network, there is a part when the whole project gets the green light and is pronounced "ready" to go public as soon as the concept of creating a relationship status is implemented. Now I have noticed the subtle changes that have been made to this feature over the years. In it's early stages it felt like Facebook encouraged people entering into romantic relationships whereas discouraging singleness (if you indicated single, the icon that would appear would be one of a heartbreak, and if you were to take it off the image would elude to "about time, they are now in a relationship!").

Looking at the statuses available to choose from on Facebook's profile page, it's interesting the selection of options now available:
Single > In a Relationship > Engaged > Married > It's Complicated > In an Open Relationship > Widowed > Separated > Divorced.
I listed them in this order because I found it interesting that if you removed "widowed" from the list, it's possible a couple can go through all of these statuses in that order. That would be sad.

The big question is why list your Single, or In a Relationship? The most common answer I hear that people don't like listing Single is because it gives the impression that they're looking. After all, that is the reason that the film gave for putting it up. Of course there are other reasons why to list it.

There is also the option of not listing your relationship status at all. I like this option for the main reason that it keeps the mystery of a person. For some it sends the message, "single but not available", and overall it forces people more who are genuinely interested to know to just ask you whether or not you're single. Listing it on Facebook removes the initiative part in learning something about someone. Another reason someone doesn't list their status is because they don't want to publicize a relationship, which is admirable considering how public Facebook or any online social network can make things.

Another thing is how the relationship status announces a couple, again part of the whole Facebook making everything public dilemma. In my life, the announcements of couples dating didn't come from announcements but from emails. There is significance to the relationship amongst friends when you receive news directly from them that they are dating someone. Another thing I appreciate from the email announcements that I've received is the request for prayer. It shows a humility that, my friends who believe in God are entering a new season that is unknown to them and are asking for clear direction. I find that private emails about romantic relationships strengthen the relationships among friends, and further builds into their relationship with God. This is something you don't get from looking at a relationship status on Facebook.


What does the Relationship Status mean to you?