THE QUESTION OF what is and is not digital infidelity has haunted monogamous types since cyber pioneers gingerly typed "sex" into ancestral search engines. But it became even more complicated and even more important for couples to answer once social media entered our lives, then took over our lives. When Men's Health writer Lauren Larson began spiraling over the role of social media in her own relationships, she asked a friend, writer Clay Skipper (plus a real expert, Dr. Katrin Tiidenberg, a professor at Tallinn University and co-author of Sex and Social Media), to help her find the line between harmless browsing and Insta infidelity.
LAUREN LARSON: Clay, how much time would you say you tend to spend investigating the social media activity of your partners?
CLAY SKIPPER: The filtered, made-for Instagram version of my answer is "Why, not at all. I am a completely secure, trusting, evolved human." The reality is that, in the past, I've definitely played the "Well, who is this new follow, and how is his jawline?" game more than I should have. But as I've gotten older, I've tried to keep myself from stumbling down that rabbit hole. It has never yielded anything worthwhile, and relationships are stressful enough without social-media paranoia.
This story is from the January - February 2024 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January - February 2024 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE SILENT TREATMENT
The world is louder than ever. In an attempt to escape its anxious hum, one chronically overstimulated writer booked into a silent retreat-no reading, no writing, no eye contact-to spend 10 days tuning into his psyche. That's when the real noise began...
This Is Not the End
Faced with an incurable cancer, surf-ski legend OSCAR CHALUPSKY isn't ready to bow down. It's a new challenge—his toughest yet—but when it's your life at stake and you have so much left to live for, you have to learn to defy death itself.
THE 19 GREATEST RUNNING ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD
Want to test just how far your feet can take you? Swerve the sunlounger on your next trip and tackle a once-in-a-lifetime experience instead.
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Forget what you've been taught. Your running goals needn't put the brakes on your strength and muscle gains. With the right approach, they can even be complementary. Here's how to get bigger, quicker and a whole lot fitter.
Run. Ride.Swim.Conquer.
Square off against untamed terrain in this challenging triathlon that takes you on a tour of South Africa's wild side.
A Fresh Take
Toss this lean, mean, quick-cooking protein with shredded fruit and veg for an easy autumn salad that's ready in 20 minutes.
GOLDEN TOUCH
Football icon and global superstar David Beckham is entering life's second half and he's still in peak condition. In this exclusive interview, he talks about his renewed passion for fitness—and why a little family rivalry keeps him pushing his limits.
MIND Deep State
Economic and political instability, along with unprecedented levels of mental ill health, have led to what researchers are calling the \"third wave\" of meditation research. And with benefits ranging from ecstasy to lifealtering insights, it's never been more enticing.
EXCEL IN THE SHORT RUN
A perfect distance for gym-goers who struggle to make cardio a priority, THE MILE is a universally-loved metric and hits the sweet spot between speed and endurance. Our plan will get you there faster.
GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE
The dumbbell devil's press is one of those love-to-hate moves --but it's damned efficient for building full-body strength and stamina when time and kit are limited.
