7 Indicators Your Relationship Is Doomed

Differentiation is the stage in a romantic relationship when the couple begins to become more individualized. It is the first stage on the decline of Knapp’s Relationship model. When couples are going through the differentiating stage, they begin to think of themselves of individuals again and become more focused on their own interests rather than their collective interests and commonalities. External pressures and personal changes begin influencing the relationship at this point. Differentiation is the first stage of coming apart in which differences are recognized and emphasized. In this article, we highlight the affordances of social media that lead to this differentiation stage.

1. More Screen time than face time

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Are you signaling that you want to be away?

Are other conversations more important?

2. Stalker Alert!

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Research indicates that Facebook stalking and its use for maintenance can be far more negative. Are you checking on what your partner is doing every moment?

3. Are you arguing over- (or under-) “sharing” on Facebook?

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Are you over or under sharing?

Are you in your comfort zone when sharing on Facebook?

Couples have problems with disagreement of what should be shared as a couple on social networked sites.

4. Are you “liking” things your Partner does not?

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Is it causing tension?

Are there less things to talk about (less mutual interest)?

Knapp's model shows that differentiation stems from less mutual interest.

5. Are you diversifying your network away from your partners?

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Do you have a lesser amount of mutual friends?

Do you follow different people?

Are you friends with people your partner would never be friends with?

Finding different friends with different interests is not a bad thing, but being more exposed to other people can cause you to lose original similarities with your partner.

6. Are you inclusive of your partner on your Facebook profile?

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Do you have any photos together?

Do you have posts of your partner?

7. If these indicators are present in your relationship.....

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1. Spend some time away from each other (but not for long)

2. Find common interests and do activities together

3. Negotiate differences