How chasing social media fame changed my relationship
I’m a 29M, living in Bangalore, working as a AI Engineer. Two years ago, I met my girlfriend and everything seemed perfect at first. 8-9 months into the relationship, I bought a bike to give us freedom to commute in this city. Soon after that, We come up with idea of making reels, thinking it would be just a fun weekend hobby. Little did I know, it would become the centerpiece of our lives.
She quickly became the face of our content while I stayed behind the camera, and before long, what was once a hobby turned into a relentless chase for likes and followers. At first, I thought we could manage it by creating a couple account or going back to private life, but she was all in, and soon, every outing was about capturing the perfect photo or video. It reached a point where even on my birthday trip to Goa, she promised not to argue, but every single day turned into a fight about photos and videos. She’d get upset if I suggested we just enjoy the moment without filming it.
In the end, I realized I didn’t sign up for a life where content creation overshadowed genuine connection. I wanted a partner, not a brand.
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Had a similar experience 10+ years ago, in the FB days, and thankfully pre-reels. She was a doctor and yet was into this crap.
The trouble is this obsession is gradual and easy for the partner to become an enabler when we just want to encourage and be helpful.
Needs a difficult open sit-down conversation on what's causing tensions, and what are the workaround. No other way.
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Data on social media addiction rates among women in India across different age groups is limited, but available studies provide some insights: • 12-17 years (Teens): Around 45% of female teens in India report problematic social media use, with 30% showing signs of addiction, driven by high engagement on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. • 18-24 years (Young Adults): Approximately 40-45% of women aged 18-24 report social media addiction, spending about 2.4 hours daily, with Instagram being a key platform. • 25-34 years: About 35% of women in this age group show signs of social media addiction, with 10.6% of female users active on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. • 35-44 years: Roughly 25% of women aged 35-44 report problematic social media use, with only 4.4% of this group’s social media users being female, indicating lower engagement but still notable addiction risks. • 45+ years (Older Adults): Limited data suggests less than 20% of women over 45 report social media addiction, with usage dropping significantly, though platforms like Facebook are used for staying connected. These figures reflect a trend where younger women (12-24) are most affected by social media addiction, with rates decreasing with age due to lower platform engagement among older groups.