Public Representations of Love: How has Social Media integrated acts of Love?

Has Social Media changed the ‘Face of Love‘?

Social media is everywhere in our contemporary lifestyles and millions of people around the world have their profiles on these platforms. According to a study by the statistics portal Statista, the number of social media users has been on the rise globally since the last few years. And in 2014, it is expected to reach a whopping 1.82 billion. According also to the data of January 2014, as many as 74% of the global population have their active presence on social media. This immense presence and the resultant activities are reason enough for these platforms to have their influence on a wide range of events. And these include the most intricate things of human civilizations as well – relationships.

Reference: The Cut Magazine: ‘An Instagram Proposal

The story of the Instagram proposal for marriage is now visible almost all over the internet. But this is not unique to Instagram only. Social media has made it easier for people to get connected with one another. And this is visible across a wide range of platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and so on.

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The account unfolds like a metaphorical slideshow of their relationship, ending with a note to look up as Parris proposed verbally, in person. Just as Diddy used Instagram to ask his long-time girlfriend if she liked a picture of an enormous diamond ring that he posted to his 3 million followers, couples are increasingly using social media as part of their marriage proposals. If Instagram and Facebook are the backbone of their social lives, it’s fitting that couples turn to these networks as a way to realise important life milestones.

Number of social network users worldwide from 2010 to 2019 (in billions)

This statistic shows the number of social network users worldwide from 2010 to 2015 with projections until 2019. In 2018, it is estimated that there will be around 2.55 billion social network users around the globe, up from 1.87 billion in 2014.

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