romantic status updates

You know her: That one friend who, upon finally getting a boyfriend, turns her entire Facebook page into a giant homage to "us."

Beginning, of course, with the changed romantic status.

I have friends in their 20s who still want a boyfriend primarily so they can embark on the transformation from "single" to "in a relationship."

Maybe that's why this Huffington Post writer says Facebook relationship statuses have contributed to the demise of feminism. An excerpt:

While I like Facebook in many respects, I find the "Relationship Status" part completely juvenile, if not damaging. Why do we feel compelled to announce or define our relationships for everyone else? (There is already a part where you can write your interests i.e. dating, networking, etc.) Why isn't it enough to define our relationship with our partner? Why must we formally legitimize our relationships for the greater public? Is it really anyone's business?

I don't agree with her entirely -- part of clarifying your relationship status on social networking sites is to avoid those creepy guys who want to be your virtual friend.

Nonetheless, there's some truth to her argument. I hate it when girls devote their entire Facebook page to their relationship. You know, the ones insist on including their significant other in every one of their profile pics.

I've never specified my relationship status on Facebook and I probably never will.

The only thing worse than the conceited public transformation from "single" to "in a relationship" to "engaged" to "married"?

The unsolicited conciliatory comments you receive when you unexpectedly go back to "single."