An Affair to remember

Isn’t micro-cheating just another buzzword for having a wandering eye? Well, it depends on how often the eye wanders, and when it does, if it lingers.

- NEHA

Imagine you are scrolling through Instagram and all of sudden you stumble upon a post, only to see that your partner has double-tapped their ex’s photo. Or, perhaps you saw a very tantalising yet flirtatious text between your partner and their co-worker. Of course, at this point you won’t think of it as much of a problem, but for some reason their actions still make you uneasy.

Well, there is a term for all of this and it is known as “microcheating”.

Digital platforms, like social media websites, dating apps, encrypted texts and other mediums have made it a lot easier for people to connect. But at the same time, the scope of cheating has also become far more complex than just having sex with someone else. In reality, micro-cheating is a whole new level of betrayal, one that you might not even be aware of. While it may sound harmless and somewhat equivalent to “innocent flirting”, many experts agree that its effects can be quite detrimental to relationships.

So, what exactly counts as micro-cheating? More importantly, what should you do if you catch your partner in the act? It is time for some real talk, as we unearth this trending relationship issue of the digital era.

UNDERSTANDING THE PHENOMENON

The reason why microcheating is still a grey area, is because it can be difficult to define. Yes, we agree that it is a subtler form of cheating, but do not let that fool you. This type of infidelity can still be incredibly destructive.