Those Annoying People Who Brag About Their Relationship On Facebook? They’re Actually Really Insecure

So 58 selfies in one weekend *isn’t* what true love looks like?

We’ve all been scrolling through our Facebook timelines and seen a status by a ‘friend’ that reads something like this:

‘Aww, the boy did good again. I can’t believe how much I love him and how much he loves me. We’re so happy. In fact we’re perfect. We have the perfect life together. We never argue. In fact we’re far happier than what you’ll ever be. You’re going to die alone.’

Followed by a selfie of them in bed.

And then another.

And then another one in black and white.

OK, so maybe they’re slightly more subtle than that, but you get where we’re coming from: There are a lot of people who really, really like to publicly gush about their relationship on social networks. And it’s really annoying.

But according to a recent study, these loved-up gushers aren’t just annoying, they’re actually really insecure in their relationship, too.

Research published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin has examined the thinking behind ‘relationship visibility’ and concluded that those who feel anxious about their relationship will feel the need to constantly remind people that they are in one, and that ‘GUYS, I’M LIKE SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW’, probably means the opposite.

An abstract from the study called Can You Tell I’m in a Relationship? Attachment and Relationship Visibility on Facebook, reads: ‘Anxious individuals reported high desired visibility… On a daily basis, when people felt more insecure about their partner's feelings, they tended to make their relationships visible. These studies highlight the role of relationships in how people portray themselves to others.’

So while it’s hardly surprising that people prefer to make their lives look better than what they really are on Facebook, spare a thought for Kelly the next time she rambles on about ‘my man making me breakfast in bed’. She’s probably a massive pile of anxiety and insecurity inside.

And obviously our own behaviour is totally perfect and normal on social networks. Obviously.