TikTok always seems to have new trends for everything, and relationships are not an exception. There always seems to be new rules, like the three month rule, or the amount of time you should wait before texting your crush back. The newest rule gaining traction on TikTok, micro-cheating, is controversial.
Micro-cheating is a vague concept, essentially various actions that a partner does that while not full cheating, are close to it. While the specific definition may change from person to person, some popular examples would be hiding messages or continuing to communicate with an ex-partner.
Some people believe that micro-cheating is a big deal breaker that needs to be taken seriously. Even SnapChatting someone can count as micro-cheating because messages disappear after 24 hours, possibly concealing flirtatious texts to someone else.
“Any type of cheating is cheating. Me and my girlfriend both deleted Snap because we don’t believe in micro-cheating,” sophomore Wyatt Bergeron said.
Micro-cheating may have the negative effect of causing an overreaction. By labeling small acts such as liking someone’s Instagram post or checking in with an ex as cheating, this can turn smaller problems into larger ones such as causing a lack of trust in the relationship.
However, micro-cheating really seems to just be a new way to keep boundaries in a relationship. What constitutes boundaries or micro-cheating can only be determined by communicating with a partner.
The term “micro-cheating” first became viral on the internet after actress Kyle Richards from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” insinuated that it was the reason behind her divorce. (Photo/Wikimedia)
