Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon as some of my Facebook friends become engaged: a photo of the couple is displayed along with the story about the couple’s new “engaged” relationship status. It’s a subtle change but it’s a nice touch by Facebook as a photo always helps a story resonate with readers. The new engaged story update has appeared to come with the updated homepage design.
There’s a chance that Facebook also displays a couple’s photo when they make the Facebook relationship official, however I have yet to see such stories in my news feed. Facebook has made the rules of relationships more complicated as couples now need to determine when, if ever, is a good time for placing their relationship status for all to see. Some users have chosen to avoid the complexity by not displaying a status at all.
Others, prefer posting their relationship status in order to solidify the commitment by each partner. Whichever side you fall on when it comes to displaying your relationship status, keep in mind that next time you decide to become “Facebook official” (see definition), Facebook will automatically notify your friends along with a photo of you and your significant other.
Do you prefer to post your relationship status on Facebook? Do you think couples should make their status public?
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Engaged or Married? I think that makes sense. No different than the old days with the newspaper section devoted to both.
Before that? Now that is where it gets sticky (and serious drama producing). I wouldn't recommend it, only if forced.
Comment by Daniel O Buchholz — November 16, 2009 @ 9:23 am
I have no relationship status on my FB. It's interesting how people always go on and on about how FB prevents one from having privacy, but so many people don't seem to realize how much control a FB user DOES have.
Whenever someone wants to know my relationship status, they ask me directly…imagine that!
If I WERE into it, I'd probably avoid a status until engagement, because now that establishes family. But since FB is not generally designed as a dating site, I see no reason to spill my guts about every stage of my relationships.
"It's complicated" is another bizarre one. Heck with it all, I say.
Comment by Ally — November 16, 2009 @ 9:23 am
I've seen these "couples' pictures" some time ago before the latest News Feed revamp. Also, many people disabled relationship updates from posting to their feeds.
Comment by Facebook User — November 16, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
Ally, while some people are concerned about privacy issues they -can- control, as you say (letting others see pictures, see status updates, other bits of information & so on), another important concern about privacy that people bring up is about how FB collects and uses data in ways that you may or may not know about and aren't necessarily able to control. In other words, not so much a concern for what individual users are seeing, but what FB itself & corporations and organizations its involved with are seeing and doing with the information. Facebook users have a lot of control over what other users can see, and significantly less control over what other entities can see.
Comment by a person on the inte — November 16, 2009 @ 5:30 pm
Thats been around for like a year hasnt it?
Comment by Jonas — November 16, 2009 @ 11:12 pm
They have had this feature for a long time. I should know, I’ve been to 15 weddings in the last two years.
Comment by Michael Grimm — November 17, 2009 @ 1:56 am
I saw the same thing when my brother and his girlfriend changed their relationship status to "in a complicated relationship," this past weekend. Unfortunately it's less cute when they're moving down the relationship ladder instead of up.
I've also disabled the relationship status on Facebook. No one's business but my own!
Comment by Jane McEntegart — November 17, 2009 @ 2:35 am
I agree with not displaying anything. Why? Facebook is only going to get MORE complex. Creating privacy groups to control what “friends” see what is a waste of my time. And you know damn well they are selling your information. Ad dollars don’t cover all the bills.
Comment by The Dude — November 17, 2009 @ 2:36 am
seems like this is one place where asking users before sending would be nice!
Comment by Jules Polonetsky — November 18, 2009 @ 3:57 am
i think it's cute! Especially when you're happy to be in a relationship or engaged, the picture adds a nice touch!
Comment by lauren carlisle — November 18, 2009 @ 4:24 am
That’s not new. That’s how it used to be a long time ago. They stopped for a little while, and are bringing it back.
Sadly, when I got engaged, and married, that feature was gone. I would have liked it.
Comment by Dan Jones — November 18, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
"Interesting phenomenon"; maybe, slightly annoying, yes. I recently got engaged, FB posted a picture of me and my fiancee, but I had absolutely ZERO control over what picture it used. I'm not crying about privacy issues, just control issues, currently there is no option to set which picture FB is going to use. Another strange thing about it, is that my fiancee can see the pic from her Home view, and I cannot.
Comment by jun — April 6, 2010 @ 11:23 am
I am a facebook user…that did post my status from relationship to engaged…and holy comments lol wish i never did ..
Comment by viki — June 21, 2010 @ 10:49 am