by veronicaromm

Created on: January 18, 2008

Breaking up is hard to do on the web (2.0)

We have all been through a breakup and felt the inevitable pangs of pain, surges of tears and very real mourning period following the end of a relationship. In today's world, where social networking and social media can be a significant part of many of our lives, old fashioned heartbreak can be compounded by the "internet breakup".

Breaking up with someone with whom you shared your likes and dislikes, sent xoxo's and matched compatibility quiz results with on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and of course the uber-popular Youtube, along with the many other social networks brings forth an entirely new set of issues. For instance, how long does one wait to remove from one's page the comments, photos, and "gifts" (sent while in the often delusional. blissful cloud of love) that stare back and now haunt you? This person was your No. 1 spot in your top friends for heavens sake! What is one to do?

Once these are removed and the STATUS in the profile changes from any of the oh-so-charming descriptions ranging from "it's complicated" or "in committed relationship" to "single", what is the proper etiquette for well wishers and others who will invariably ask how you are coping, what happened and other questions that may be sincere but can burn through the screen like molten lava? What to do with the bevy of comments left to make sure you "keep your chin up", that they are "thinking of you" and whatever other trite phrase delivered in glitter loitering in cyberspace like floating bullets in a Matrix-like freeze frame. Makes one want to pownce directly into a gaping void.

As in the traditional break up there is always the division of "friends". The internet makes that division a blatantly public and often childish process. Do they "Defriend you?" Do you "Defriend" them? Who does what and how long until someone takes action? There is always that one first friend that is brave enough to make the friend switch. This person simply enjoys the new friendship more than the original friendship, yet inevitably puts themselves into the center of what may turn into a battle of loyalties, criticism and of course the unbearable insult of being Defriended (they also risk negative posts and g-d knows what from the slighted party). These friends that once felt Linkdin may experience the pain of being blocked, ignored or even dare I say spammed.

So as you sit there and ponder the thought "OMG" this could happen to me and your heart goes all a twitter,

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