Social media can breed jealousy and drama. In September 2016, Rob Kardashian and his fiancé, Blac Chyna let it all air out through Twitter and Instagram, in turn fueling breakup rumors. Nurturing a budding romance into a lasting relationship may mean denying that friend request from your latest love interest. According to our latest survey, “friending” a new love interest too soon can doom a new relationship.

WhatsYourPrice surveyed more than 14,000 members on their last relationship to determine how connecting on social media can affect a relationship. We asked members when they “friended” or “followed” the last person they were in a relationship with. Responses were divided into three groups – before the first date, immediately after the first date, and a month or more after the first date. Those three groups were then asked a follow-up question regarding how long their last relationship lasted.

Friending Timeframe

In relation to your first date, when did you friend or follow your last significant other on social media? (According to 14,821 respondents)

1. Before: 26%

2. Immediately after: 42%

3. A month or more after: 32%

Too Soon

Apparently, time is of the essence! A majority of respondents (42 percent) who said they connected immediately with their significant other following the first date had relationships that did not last past 30 days.

Constantly checking up on a significant other’s social posts can negatively affect a person’s views of his or her partner. Connecting with a new partner on social media can result in information overload. Allowing too much access to someone’s past can create unnecessary anxieties and break an already fragile trust between new partners.

Just Right

In contrast, members who waited longer than one month after the initial meeting, were more likely to have relationships lasting more than one year. The majority of respondents (48 percent) who waited over a month to connect on social media, were in relationships lasting longer than one year.

Focusing on building a bond rather than confirming your new status via Facebook, seems to result in a more successful relationship rate.

The Takeaway

Results of the survey showed no correlation between “friending” a new S.O. before the first date and the length of the relationship.

Entering a new relationship is exciting, yet fragile, and it’s perhaps best kept offline. If lasting love is the goal, it seems best to wait a month or more before becoming “Facebook official.”

Has social media negatively affected any relationships in your life?