When it comes to debates on social media, it seems like everyone is an “expert” chiming in with opinions, takes, or advice. And while the internet is currently obsessing over Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the New York Knicks win, Love Island USA, and the World Cup, there’s another topic that people are debating in the midst of all this. And it has nothing to do with sports, movies, or reality dating shows. This time, people are debating whether or not liking Instagram stories while you’re in a relationship is considered flirting or even infidelity. Now, we’re not talking about pictures of food or beautiful flicks of the sky or funny memes. We mean selfies; stories like bikini pics, revealing photos, thirst traps or, even just regular old selfies.
Taking it back to the conversation about Instagram story likes, several users on X agree that liking bikini pics, thirst traps, and selfies while in a relationship is inappropriate. Valentina Henao, a 25-year-old based in South Carolina who is currently seeing someone she met on Instagram, weighed in on the debate. “I didn't realize for a while that liking someone's Instagram story was like this big thing, because I used to like everybody's story. In a relationship sense, if a man is going out of their way to like bikini pictures, thirst traps, or even regular selfies of other women, I do think that is inappropriate.”
Her sister Sara, 21, agreed, saying, “It’s very intentional, so I probably wouldn't feel too great about it,” she said. “Also, it’s about how it comes across. And you know one thing about a good man, he's not going to embarrass you. You don't ever want a person coming to you and saying, “Oh, your man was in my story likes or doing xyz.” Also, if you like people's stories, they'll see that, and some people will like, genuinely DM you afterward,” she told BuzzFeed.