Not so long ago, the ultimate sign of commitment between couples involved the merging of their finances, but the creation of a brand spanking new joint bank account is no longer the gold standard of official coupledom. Older generations might scoff at the millennial notion of making things official on social media, but technology plays a much larger part in cementing a couple’s relationship than the mere mixing of their paychecks. It’s no surprise, though — tech plays such a significant role in our lives as individuals that it only makes sense for it to factor into our romantic lives.
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Being Facebook Official Matters
Your parents and grandparents probably make fun of your insistence on becoming Facebook official, but that’s an unmistakable sign of commitment. Older generations don’t understand the concept of being Googled, nor do most of them have to deal with the cutthroat nature of dating and relationships in a landscape that includes Tinder and Grindr. Facebook profiles are more public than a joint bank account, of course, but the two things aren’t dissimilar. In both cases, you’re linking your life to someone else’s. With Facebook, you’re just doing it publicly, so the world as a whole knows that you’re taken — both of you.
Having a Phone Plan Together Means Something
Getting on the same phone plan is the ultimate sign of trust. Mobile phones and their plans are often collateral damage during a breakup. It’s the type of thing you never want to do unless you’re certain you’re with The One. Unless you’re committed to each other, you’d be better off getting tattoos of each other’s names. To share a phone plan with another person, the two of you must have total trust that no one will use up all the data or go over your limit, that you’ll each pay your share of the bill, and that neither of you will spend a fortune playing Candy Crush or Farmville.
Fortunately, changing providers is easier than it once was, so if you find yourself getting serious with the person you love, take the leap. Talk to each other about what you need from a provider and a network, as well as what phones you like and which add-ons and bonuses excite you the most. For example, if you text each other a lot, play games often, or frequently watch videos, then consider starting an unlimited plan with T-Mobile. Working out what you want is helpful for your relationship, too — teamwork makes the dream work, after all.
Combining Internet Costs Takes Commitment
Where the cable bill was once the big-ticket entertainment bill between couples, today the Internet is more essential. After all, you can watch practically anything if you have an Internet connection. The odds are high that both partners in a relationship use the Internet equally, so it’s only fair that both people pay for the privilege of sharing memes and watching cat videos. Of course, there’s also the fact that the convenience of online bill pay means that most couples need the Internet to pay their bills.
Sharing Accounts Requires Trust
When you’re in a committed relationship, every night is Netflix and chill—but you’re probably not using two Netflix accounts, right? Couples share various accounts after they’re officially official. Some even have joint Facebook accounts. In all cases, trust is essential, which is why entertainment tech is every bit as important as sharing a bank account.
A shared account means that the two of you share a password, as well. You may not share the bill, especially if it’s small, but there’s still trust involved. You’re also sharing your viewing preferences with each other, and if you watch shows together, you each trust the other not to watch ahead — in some relationships, that’s a deal breaker.
None of this means that couples shouldn’t open up joint bank accounts, but there are more modern signs that you’re serious about one another. Do you think it takes more commitment to share a checking account or a cell phone plan?