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Facebook is the most popular social networking website, with over 200 million active users. Because of its popularity, it's common for users to meet prospective mates on the site, and for existing couples to "friend" each other online. It's also becoming routine to end relationships using the site; a recent study found that over 10% of Facebook users said they would consider ending a romantic relationship on the site. This guide will show you how to break up on Facebook.
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Facebook is the most popular social networking website, with over 200 million active users. Because of its popularity, it's common for users to meet prospective mates on the site, and for existing couples to "friend" each other online. It's also becoming routine to end relationships using the site; a recent study found that over 10% of Facebook users said they would consider ending a romantic relationship on the site. This guide will show you how to break up on Facebook.
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Introduction
- In the Internet age, it's increasingly easy to break up with your significant other online. Using Facebook to terminate a relationship can be much easier than doing it face-to-face. This method can be perilous, though, as the breakup could become very public and could introduce mutual friends into the mix. That said, if you are curious about how to execute this maneuver, read on.
Step 1: Access Facebook
- If you aren't already logged into Facebook, go to the site's homepage, where you will be prompted to do so. On the right side of the bar are two dialog boxes. In the left dialog box, type in the e-mail address that you used to sign up for the account. On the right, enter the password that you created when creating your membership; then click the "Login" button.
Step 2: Publicly Change Your Status
- The next screen is your home page, which lists the recent activities and posts of your Facebook friends. To change your status, you will want to click on the "Profile" link at the top right of this page.
- On the profile page, you will see five links: "Wall," "Info," "Photos," "Boxes" and "+." If you click on the "Info" link, you'll see a list including your basic information, personal information and contact information. Click on the "Edit Information" link to the right of the "Basic Information" section.
- From here, you can change your relationship status. The easiest way to do this is to click on "Cancel Relationship," then press "Save Changes." If you like, you can also use a drop-down window to change your status to "Single." At this point, your profile will change; this will announce to your friends (and your mate) that you are no longer interested in continuing the relationship. This is certainly the coldest, but also the quickest way to send a breakup message to your significant other.
Step 3: Announce the Breakup
- An optional second step is to announce to your entire community of Facebook friends that the relationship is over. An example of this would be to fill in the dialog box under "What's on your mind?" with a statement like "is no longer dating Phil." The statement will appear on your friends' front pages when they log into the site, and if your mate is a Facebook friend, this is a guaranteed way to let him or her know that it's over.
Step 4: Prepare for the Fallout
- Breaking up on Facebook is a widely known practice, but it isn't without social ramifications, especially if you and your ex share mutual friends. You could receive unpleasant wall messages from your former mate and other friends, who could air your "dirty laundry" for all to see. While it's possible to "unfriend" certain people as a preventative measure, it's sometimes impossible to predict the reaction of even your closest friends.
- One notorious example of the ramifications of a Facebook breakup is that of a British user named Sarah Richardson, who was killed by husband Edward Richardson after she had changed her Facebook status to "single." This is, of course, at the extreme end of the spectrum, but it does demonstrate that the experience can be incredibly painful for the individual on the other side.
Step 5: Reconnect with Your Ex
- The final step in the process is also optional, but can be helpful for both you and your ex. After a "cooling down" phase, many Facebook users send the other party a gift from Facebook's Gift Shop (like a friendship bracelet or a brownie). This virtual olive branch may help mend fences and could spark a non-romantic friendship. But if the gesture is ignored or rejected, it's time for both of you to move on.
Conclusion
- Online breakups are always perilous, and a Facebook breakup can cause emotional distress to both parties. It can be useful for more casual or short-term couplings, but, depending on the relationship, a face-to-face or phone conversation may be a better option. If you feel the need to use Facebook to terminate a relationship, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons, and tread very lightly.
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