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Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life, Real Life, TikTok, Advice
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life, Real Life, TikTok, Advice
The age-old debate over which relationship behaviours should be explicitly categorised as 'cheating' appears to be rolling on.
A kiss on a night out? Definitely cheating. Looking at another girl in Morrisons? Totally innocent. But when it comes to interacting with other people on social media, there appears to be a grey area.
Well, according to one relationship expert, women around the world have reason to worry if their partner is 'liking' other girls' photographs on Instagram.
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And no, we're not talking about photos of the dogs, or their perfectly-decorated Christmas trees. We mean the likes of mirror selfies, glammed-up snaps or even worse... bikini pics.
Relationship pro Sadia Khan has revealed that many of her clients see their relationship prematurely terminated after woman struggle with their partner's social media behaviour.
Khan claimed that men 'liking' other women's posts in particular can lead to feelings of jealousy, insecurity, and a lack of trust from their partner.
And even if you don't agree that social media 'liking' should be defined as cheating, I'm sure we can all agree that it's pretty disrespectful to show interest to someone other than your partner, as it implies a 'wandering eye'.
Speaking on a podcast recently, Khan caught up with a man who didn't realise how his 'harmless' social media 'liking' impacted his girlfriend.
"If you're in a relationship and you're liking other girls' photos - I originally thought it was nothing but I underestimated how much damage that would be for [my girlfriend],' the man in question said.
"If she's scrolling social media and she sees I've liked a photo of a girl who is half naked, of course she's not going to like that."
He went on: "If I see that she's liked a photo of a topless guy - I'll go crazy. If you are in a relationship if real life, you have to be on a relationship on social media as well."
Dating expert Khan then advised him 'it would cost you nothing to not tap and save your relationship - it's not a big ask', before explaining that many men claim their partners are insecure in these cases as a rebuttal.
"But [having an issue with] women who post provocative pictures and men who like provocative pictures is not being insecure," she told listeners.
"It's recognising that it's an invitation for something you don't want to invite into your relationship."
After the podcast was shared across social media - including on the TikTok account @inspired_minds - many viewers have expressed their thoughts on the matter.
One wrote in the comment section: "I think it's so disrespectful when men do this."
Another added: "It's worse when it's someone he knows personally. Other women know what it means".
"Many believe infidelity is only through physical contact but that is not true. You can also be unfaithful in your heart. Everything starts there", a third agreed.
Others, however, don't believe there's anything wrong with men 'liking' other women's photos.
After the video was shared on Reddit, one wrote: "The reality is Instagram is absolutely not real life, every single guy likes pictures of hot girls and it has nothing to do with loyalty or loving your girlfriend".
Another agreed: "Men can't avoid other women for the rest of his life and if liking pictures makes you jealous, you should re-evaluate what the source of your insecurities are."