Facebook Marriage Status: Why Hide It?

Marriage.com Editorial Team

Expertise: Relationship & Marriage Advice

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Updated: 12 Feb, 2023

Table of Contents

Open up about visibility on social media and agree together on what to share, so your partner feels seen and your connection grows.
Protect each other’s privacy by setting clear boundaries, because trust deepens when you respect what you both want to reveal.
Stand united on online decisions and support one another when opinions differ, turning disagreements into conversations that strengthen your bond.

If the movie “The Social Network” is accurate, one of the last features added on Facebook before it was launched as a networking website for Harvard students is the relationship status. That feature provided such value that the website became a hit among college students when it was eventually expanded to include other Ivy League Universities.

Today Facebook has 2.32 billion active users worldwide. But that feature is mostly hidden from view. Almost nobody sets their relationship status for the public or even their friends to see.

That’s usually not a problem, except if you are married and your spouse is wondering why?

There would be people who would take offense in their partner not telling the world, or at least their social network, that they are married. To them, it would be like not wearing their wedding ring in public. I see their point.

I do know a lot of couples who don’t wear their wedding rings anymore. That is because they have gained so much weight since they got married and it no longer fits. Some people still wear it on their necks as a pendant, but it just doesn’t have the same “I’m taken.” effect.

What’s the big deal? It’s just a Facebook Marriage Status.

You’re right, it is petty and trivial. It’s not even worth an argument between two rational individuals. Here’s something to think about, if it’s so petty and trivial, then activate the feature. If it’s not really a big deal, then on or off wouldn’t make a difference.

So, if your partner does mention it, turn it on. There shouldn’t be any problem unless you’re hiding the fact you’re married.

It’s for privacy and security

There are a lot of criminals nowadays that goes through social media networks to find their next target. But, if you are really that concerned about privacy, then get off social media altogether, unless you’re working undercover for the FBI, DEA, CIA, or other lettered organizations.

There’s absolutely no reason why you should expose yourself in social media, and then be concerned about privacy. If you want to stay in touch with your friends, use the phone. It still works, or if you really want more privacy then use Telegram.

You’re just protecting your spouse from a vindictive ex

There are different levels of vindictive exes. Some need a court restraining order while others just need to be avoided at all costs.

Either way, they do exist as Taylor Swift expressed in her songs. So it does make sense to protect your Spouse from them.

Blocking your Ex, would only make it more difficult, but not really impossible for them to see, especially if she is as crazy and as determined as you described. So let your partner know your stand, Since both of you dated for a while before getting married, if such a vindictive ex existed, they would have known about it and dealt with it.

So if they still want to display your Facebook marriage status, go ahead. Let them deal with it or set it to viewable by “Friends.”

It’s set to custom, so only a few select people know that you are married to me

It's set to custom, so only a few select people know that you are married to me Ok, this doesn’t make any sense, I get why Facebook installed the feature, but I don’t understand why a person would display marriage to a few people and not to everyone else.

If you chose to be in social media, it means you are not afraid of letting people know what you had for breakfast. But selecting only a few people to know who you are married to, sounds like you are ashamed of your partner in some way.

Other than the vindictive exes mentioned before, I see no reason why a person would not want others to know who they are married to while allowing other aspects of their lives to be displayed in social media.

I see other reasons why you would want to be in Social Media and hide your information. But selectively showing it others, but not to everyone else, sounds like you are hiding something.

This can be also be resolved by a mature conversation between two rational adults. It is also trivial, but it will always revert back to, if your partner asks for it, then go do it. There’s no valid reason (except prowling and cheating) why the other partner wouldn’t respect such a minor request.

You’re marriage status is hidden too

A classic case of two wrongs makes a right.

So, if you do care about your partner’s relationship status and why they haven’t let the whole world know that they are married to you, then to be fair, do the same.

It doesn’t make sense to start a potential argument about a topic that you are yourself guilty of, if you have the cajones to point it out, then agree to do the same.

It seems like a minor, narrow-minded, and frivolous issue to argue about displaying marital status on Facebook. Considering the fact that setting Facebook Marriage Status takes only a few clicks of a button, it shouldn’t be a hassle to change it one way or another.

It may sound that way, but there are statistics out there that Facebook is to blame for one out of five divorces, which is weird, considering that couples who met over social media last longer according to another study.

Whatever statistic that would eventually apply to you someday, a request from a partner is no different from any other request from your partner. Do what you can to satisfy them, especially one that would only take a few clicks of a button and wouldn’t cost anything.

I understand that it is emotionally hurtful when someone denies they are married and it’s even more hurtful if they deny being married to a particular person. It’s also a conflict that can easily be avoided.

So be proud of your spouse and family, display your Facebook Marriage Status, if your partner asks for it. It wouldn’t make any difference anyway since there are tagged photos of everyone in your accounts.

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Marriage.com Editorial Team Relationship & Marriage Advice

The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts... Read more to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice. Read less