In today’s relationships, the definition of cheating is really blurred and unclear. With the rise of new technologies and social networks, it’s not so clear what can be considered cheating nowadays.
Is your boyfriend cheating if he likes another girl’s bikini Instagram photos? Or, is he the only cheating if he’s talking to her? For some people, all types of online interactions, however sexual, are considered harmless and in good fun.
For couples of the 21st century, one of the biggest gray areas is sexting. Even though we traditionally consider physical and emotional cheating as affairs, the new age has brought on some new forms of cyber commitment.
Should you tolerate it if your SO is sexting someone else while you’re in a relationship? Is it worth it to break up over it? What do other couples think?
According to research, the majority of couples states that sexting is, indeed, a form of cheating. So, if we want to understand this statement, first we need to understand some definitions and limits.
What is Sexting?
Sexting is any type of online and mobile chatting related to sex. It doesn’t have to include photos, but it often can. People sext strangers, people they know, people they’re dating and their relationship partners. Even though it’s a taboo in close friend circles, it’s actually quite common among young people.
Various studies have dealt with sexting, the motivation behind it and its effect on heterosexual relations. So far, they haven’t been able to produce a single answer as to why people in relationships sext other people.
What is cheating?
Generally speaking, cheating in a relationship is any type of betrayal of trust from one or both partners. For different people, it implies many different things.
For example, some people consider that only sex is counted as cheating. They see all other forms of opposite-sex encounters as harmless and irrelevant.
For others, there is a wider area of categories that fall into cheating. These people will consider any type of physical or sexual contact with another person cheating. This could mean kissing, cuddling, etc.
Also, there are some partners that have a very low tolerance for non-monogamy. For example, some people consider light flirting and conversation as cheating as well.
That said, it’s impossible to define the solid limits of what is cheating and what’s not. It depends on the person and each partner has a right to have their own opinion on this matter. It’s not a socially imposed value or a part of the culture. You simply have to go with whatever feels tolerable to both of you.
When it comes to sexting, there are 2 things to take into consideration. Firstly, it’s not physical, and secondly, it’s not even real if your partner doesn’t know the person in real life. These factors add up and eventually ruin some relationships because of these circumstances.
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