Love at First Post: Protecting Your Heart in the Digital Age
Love is in the air—or rather, the tempting aroma of overpriced chocolates is spreading across the globe. Whether you’re spending February 14th with friends, family, or that special someone, one thing’s for sure: there’s no escaping hearts and roses this season. Yet, in a world where #CoupleGoals and over-the-top proposals go viral on social media every day, it’s easy to wonder if you’re falling behind in the love department. However, instead of measuring love through carefully curated pictures and viral posts, perhaps it's time to remind ourselves about what love truly means—beyond the screen.
Social media has become a double-edged sword when it comes to love. The constant stream of love-themed posts can make it seem like everyone’s in romantic relationships while you’re left behind wondering when it’ll be your turn. “Soft launches,” where couples subtly reveal their new relationships through cryptic photos and vague captions, have become a popular way to declare love. Soon after, the subtlety of love-themed posts fade, making way for a flood of flower bouquets, heart-shaped chocolates, and cute couple selfies that dominate the algorithm of your feed.
These social media trends often give users the feeling of missing out, seeing everyone else in seemingly perfect relationships while they remain on the sidelines. But before you start your search for “the one,” it’s important to remember that social media perpetuates unrealistic standards and expectations of love. Frequently showcasing only the highs of a relationship and none of the lows, filters, sweet captions, and staged photos create an idealistic idea of love that prioritizes aesthetics over authenticity. Romanticizing the idea of relationships, we tend to oversimplify what love truly means and forget what it truly is at its core.
1 Corinthians 13:4 states: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” True love, as described in 1 Corinthians, is patient—not rushed by the pressures of comparison with others or the need to keep up with social media trends. It’s kind—expressed in small, everyday actions rather than just grand, staged, and public displays of affection. It does not envy—meaning it doesn’t measure itself against other relationships, nor does it need validation through likes and comments. It does not boast or act with pride—it thrives in humility, mutual respect, and forgiveness. But above all, it prevails even amidst the realization that relationships are not meant to be easy. Unlike the portrayal of relationships on social media as always being fun and lighthearted, love is a deep connection that requires commitment and self-sacrifice – things that aren’t easy to come across these days. The best love stories start with a heart aligned with God, not just a relationship status.
It’s easy to get lost in the picture-perfect depictions of love on social media and feel pressured to chase after a relationship just to keep up. In a rush to fit in with everyone else, many jump into romance before considering what they truly want or need. However, by being more mindful when consuming content and staying grounded in reality, you can establish a sense of self-assurance—a confidence that love will find its way to you when the time is right, not when you force yourself into it. Love doesn’t have a deadline, and you’re exactly where you need to be.
