Cyber Affairs: The Thin Line Between Flirting & Cheating

We’ve all been there – you’re minding your business on Facebook, when all of a sudden up pops an inbox message from an old school flame you haven’t seen in years.

You catch up for a bit, you find out his marriage ended a while ago and before you know it you’re chatting at least once a day and you start relying on him for his input on your daily affairs.

 

Okay, maybe we haven’t all been in this exact situation, but what we’re trying to illustrate is the ease with which you can unknowingly instigate or condone the makings of a cyber affair even it that was not your original intention. Social media is everywhere and if you are not careful you could unwittingly put your marriage or relationship in danger.

 

Are you concerned that your interactions may be skirting the line? The following are a clear indication that innocent flirting might be verging in cheating:

 

You’re keeping it a secret

If you are intentionally deleting emails of WhatsApp messages you are in dangerous territory. The only reason you’ll do so is to keep them from your partner because you know they would be hurt or would not approve. A good rule of thumb is to read your correspondence and imagine you found these messages is your significant other’s outbox. If your stomach clenches, you need to cut it out.

 

There is a sexual undertone

Platonic friends of the opposite sex do not make sexual jokes or indulge in sexual innuendo. It’s not harmless and it’s disrespectful towards your partner. Get out.

 

It takes up a lot of time

Are you emailing back and forth more than 5 times a day or chatting online in excess of 30 minutes daily? This is now officially a relationship.

 

Your friends voice concern

Close confidants like friends, mothers and sisters are a great barometer when it comes to this sort of thing. Provided you are willing to confide in them (and if not, ask yourself why not?), they will quickly be able to tell you whether the interaction is as innocent as you think.

 

So there you have it, a few clear-cut indications that your online chatting might now be all that innocent. Keep your eye on the Under the Covers blog for more helpful information to spice up your sex life.

Articles, Couples
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