How can men support their girlfriend/wife’s presence or success on social media rather than feeling threatened?

Question

Considering that many women use social media for both personal and professional networking, how can men learn to support their partners’ visibility and success online instead of feeling threatened? What mindset shifts are necessary to embrace this reality?

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

There's a HUGE difference between promoting a business (assuming that business isn't some form of selling her body) and using social media for personal attention and validation. Most women use it for the latter, which is why their profiles are mostly selfies wearing very little or suggesting a luxury lifestyle that isn't real.

An 8 year old would have no trouble telling the difference, but many adult women can't seem to understand the difference. I've heard a lot of women say "I just post it so I can look at it later" which is the world's worst justification, because you can just as easily see your pics in your camera roll without posting it. Eventually, they are forced to admit that they do it for attention.

The vast majority of men don't want to be with a woman who is advertising herself as "available" or as someone seeking male attention. It's really that simple.

If you are promoting your business, then the business is the focus of the account, and in the relatively rare times you are in the pictures, you are dressed professionally and business appropriate.

Avicenna · Accepted Answer

As someone who networks with former classmates and colleagues as well as people I meet professionally, I can tell you no one has a problem with social media use that is targeted and professionally appropriate.

Seeking attention and validation from large numbers of random men is not appropriate for a woman in a relationship.

Nikki1989 · Accepted Answer

Support her goals if her social media presence aligns with her goals and aspirations.

RageBabe · Accepted Answer

This applies to both: confidence, although getting it is easier said than done.

Zack-Bann · Answer

Pretty sure there’s a fine line between LinkedIn networking and bikini/naked modeling on entertainment platforms.

I don’t think any man should sit there and support his partner putting herself on display for strangers to ogle her in the hopes to make money

The mindset shift needed is on the women’s side: and that is to understand that prostitution can have many forms not necessarily sexual intercourse.
And if they have a shred of self respect or respect for their partner they would never take part in social media “content creation” which is a buzz word to say “pornography”

Sun_Kim-Ai · Answer

Mmmm.

Does it count that my wife used to stream videogames in the past? Not counting that she has a very active Instagram (while I am more active on Facebook) and honestly what I usually do is liking and sharing her content and on Facebook I invite all my contacts to like and follow her Page about her shop (she owns a Deli meats shop), like and share her posts and occasionally star in them - cooking videos with her and a special video about her family recipe for making sausages.

ShadezMcgee · Answer

Depends on what the "work" or "presence" is, Ash.

If it is something like running a legitimate business, promoting entertainment like music or art, or something that can be bought by consumers, that is one thing.

Now if you are talking supporting a wife or girlfriend doing something like OnlyFans or trying to push suggestive pictures online while in a relationship, that is a different story.

Redstang88 · Answer

Lmao nobody uses social media for “professional networking”. A big online presence is almost always just fishing for attention, and even the women that actually do make their living off it got that way by being really good at fishing for attention

blackgaletiger · Answer

It all depends on what you consider success especially with social media. If getting likes, attention and being over sexualized is seen as success then cool go for it. But how can i support that notion when its only online. How can i support something that can develop into an ego trip or support her if people become trolls or post negative responses? Sometimes its guys not supporting out of feeling threatened but sometimes its because of the reality that social media feeds

slatyb · Answer

That's a feeling mostly beyond conscious control which results from serious insecurity and a fear that they're partner will become more successful and therefore independent of them. This isn't going to change until they work through their feelings of insecurity.

A woman in such a relationship should probably leave it so they can find a supportive partner. They have outgrown their partner and it's unlikely to improve soon.

MittParekh15 · Answer

Well supporting a partner on social media is a different thing, and commuincating the support to the partner is another

Social media is for other, partner feelings are internal

So if partner is okay with the same, one can upload their together pictures with some good quote should workre-state//background_color_rgba (0, 0, 0, 0), font_color_rgb (77, 77, 77), justifyLeft

HighValue · Answer

If she prioritizes social media, just end the relationship. She is likely a low quality immoral person to be avoided. One single provocative/revealing picture posted, or flirty message, or contact with any ex means they are a terrible person.

XXTruthfulOgrexx · Answer

It has little to do with feeling threatened as much as feeling disrespected.  There is a point where the women take it to extremes. It isn't a healthy dynamic.  There is a huge difference.

spartan55 · Answer

Why would I feel threatened? This is really a thing?

exitseven · Answer

If she is doing naked stuff or communication with old boyfriends I will never accept it as reasonable behavior.

backdoorman · Answer

This is another example of things that don't actually happen in the real world.

LiamJHayden · Answer

Well if she is a musician or other artist and is trying to break through, it should be easy. If she is only on there to get validation from random guys I'm out.

Ariesman81 · Answer

So a man is insecure if he doesn't want his woman all over social media? How about that woman doesn't deserve a committed relationship?

Unit1 · Answer

I don't use social media.

genericname85 · Answer

How is her social media presence my business? As long as she's not on onlyfans selling nudes, i don't care about her social media.

Wiredone · Answer

I would never feel threatened by her success

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Why would you feel threatened?

Grond21 · Answer

Why is gender being brought into this?

In_Trance · Answer

I don't know any guy that feels threatened

seeyounexttuesday · Answer

Depends on what the business is.

Liz1990 · Answer

Communication is what’s ok.

jahaims · Answer

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How can men support their girlfriend/wife’s presence or success on social media rather than feeling threatened?

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Are guys aware that their social media behavior can sometimes make their partner’s insecure?

How can men support their girlfriend/wife’s presence or success on social media rather than feeling threatened?

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What Girls & Guys Said

Are guys aware that their social media behavior can sometimes make their partner’s insecure?

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