A new study shows Facebook couples can have an expiration date.
 
In a discussion at the Technology, Entertainment, Design conference called “The Beauty of Data Visualization,” author and designer David McCandless presented his research on status updates related to breakups and the time of year they occur.
 
According to McCandless, Facebook users and their significant others most commonly break up on Mondays, before spring break, two weeks before Christmas, and on April Fools’ Day or Valentine’s Day. The least popular holiday for breakups is Christmas Day.
 
“We scraped 10,000 Facebook status updates with the phrase ‘breakup’ or ‘broken up,’ and this was the pattern we found,” McCandless said.
 
Facebook has become an integral part of this generation, said Loretta Pecchioni, associate communication studies professor.
 
“Younger people, like college-age students, have grown up with [Facebook] and use it to stay in touch,” Pecchioni said.
“People use it for a number of purposes.”
 
Facebook is like a giant game of “telephone,” said Sheri Thompson, IT planning and communications officer.
 
“I would caution people about putting so much of their lives up for public consumption,” Thompson said. “See who has access to that information and to be wary because once it’s up there, it stays there.”
 
Brittany Burns, political science senior, said she thinks some people like the attention their relationship can get on Facebook.
 
“It’s kind of like PDA,” Burns said. “They just want everyone to know they are in a relationship.”
 
Others believe it should stay between the parties involved.
“I’m not necessarily one to kiss and tell,” said Tim Dalton, biological sciences freshman.
 
Updating relationship statuses helps deter unwanted attention, said Madelyn Westholz, biological sciences freshman.
 
“After I set mine to being in a relationship, other guys wouldn’t hit on me,” Westholz said. “It helps set the bar for what you’re willing to do with people.”
 
Sometimes the relationship doesn’t matter until it’s “Facebook official,” students say.
 
“In our case, when we were dating, it was a direct question in normal conversation,” said Colbjorn Erlandson, psychology sophomore. “You know, because they say, ‘It’s not official until it’s on Facebook.'”
 
Facebook statuses act as a window into people’s lives, Pecchioni said.
 
“It does help people understand who we think we are, what we think is worth posting and how we keep up with people,” Pecchioni said.
 
Many people use Facebook to create a persona, Pecchioni said.
 
“People are looking at what image they are presenting to others based on what they post on their home page,” Pecchioni said.
 
Breakup etiquette has changed in the past couple years with the advent of social media, Pecchioni said.
 
“I still think you should break up with someone face to face,” Pecchioni said. “If you’ve been together long enough, and the world knows and you’ve told people you’re a couple, you need to tell the other person before you post it on Facebook.”
 
Pecchioni agrees with McCandless’ data.
 
“Right before Christmas … [people might say,] ‘If I can’t figure out what’s a good gift, maybe I don’t want to have to spend money on this person,'” Pecchioni said. “Valentine’s Day actually makes sense because everyone wants to be in love on Valentine’s Day, and then with the summer, you’ve been in a summer internship or home, and you’re going back to school.”
 
Pecchioni said popular college events like spring break have an interesting dynamic with relationships and Facebook.
 
“The stereotype is that everyone is out drinking and having sex, and what happens if your girlfriend sees a picture of you on Facebook with somebody at a wet T-shirt contest? You’re busted!” Pecchioni said. “What stays in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas anymore.”
 
Social media statuses can help predict relationship breakups, Pecchioni said.
 
“It would let other people know what’s going on with them, so even if you do break up with someone face to face first, how quickly is your status going to be updated after that breakup?” Pecchioni said.
 
Updating one’s relationship status online makes it official, Westholz said.
 
“I dumped a previous boyfriend and updated my relationship status like a minute afterward,” Westholz said. “It just makes it official.”
 
Nicole Chellino, elementary education junior, said she once received a relationship request from someone when she didn’t expect it.
 
“It was kind of awkward, so I just accepted it,” Chellino said. “I feel like Facebook is really silly and it puts labels on things that really don’t need labels.”
 
Other students said they don’t post anything regarding relationships on their Facebook.
 
“I feel like Facebook is not the place to display your business publicly,” said Tobias Sibley, biological sciences senior. “It’s a lot of mess, especially when another female says you’re in a relationship and it becomes a whole lot of conflict.”
 
Updating statuses after breaking up can be tricky and hurtful, Pecchioni said.
 
“Don’t be cruel, even if you break up and announce it to the world. Try not to discuss why it happened,” Pecchioni said. “It’s mean. Would you want them to do that back to you?”
 
 
 
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Contact Kittu Pannu at [email protected]