Valentine’s Day is about love and spending time with that special someone. Do not allow social networks to mess up the day of love.

Sixty-five percent of adults use social network sites. Facebook has 845 million users, and 60 percent of those users list themselves as being in some sort of relationship. Thirty-seven percent are listed as single, 31 percent married, 24 percent “in a relationship,” 5 percent engage, and 3 percent claim “it’s complicated.”

Social media can be friend or foe when it comes to romantic relationships.

“The problem with combining social networks with a relationship is everyone tends to get involved,” said Darius McKiver, a junior computer aided drafting and design major from Chinquapin, N.C.

“Your friends and followers are telling you what your partner is posting. Instead of going straight to the horse’s mouth, you’re too busy listening to what everyone is saying.”

Other students feel that social media can make or break a relationship. Many have credited social media to finding new relationships.

Facebook has changed dating for the worse. Facebook causes people in relationships to overanalyze their partner’s online activity.  

Also friends fuel jealousy, and every relationship mistake made is on record, all because of Facebook.

“For some relationships, social media is the best way for people to show affection. But it can [also] air out ‘dirty laundry,’ cause conflicts and be the starting place for rumors,” said Gabrielle Stuart, a junior chemical engineering major from Clinton, MD. “It is all in how you carry yourself and present yourself on these social media sites. That will dictate the effect social networks will have.”

Once upon a time, breaking up with someone over the phone or email was considered rude.

Now, changing one’s relationship status on social media has become the most common way to end a relationship. In a survey of 1,000 Facebook users, 25 percent of respondents found out their relationships were over by seeing it on Facebook first.

“I have never allowed social media to ruin any of my relationships, but I have seen it put an end to some serious relationships. It is never worth it. Most times, it’s a matter of an ex initiating a personal message or commenting on a post that triggers most issues within a relationship,” said Joshua Johnson, a senior criminal justice major from Greensboro.

Some students believe openly displaying their relationships on social networks can be a positive.

But couples should always evaluate what they post in cyberspace and how much of their relationships they really want exposed to the public.

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• Erik Veal, Editor-in-Chief