Breaking up is Hard to Do in Digital Age

(Image source: Tumblr / Kahnoodle) BY JASMINE BAILEY 
It's never easy ending a relationship, but according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, living in this day in age can make getting over that special someone much harder. The digital age — with it comes Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. And it may be fun to post pictures and statuses about you and your significant other while you're together, but when it comes time to break it off, all of those so-called "digital possessions" are still there. (Via The Ellen Degeneres Show)  The study shows many people just can't bring themselves to hit the delete button, and some hit it way too fast. Either way, it makes for a cold, hard, painful walk down memory lane. "It shows one-third of Facebook users just can't delete any pictures from their past relationships, and experts claim those visual reminders only prolong the emotional pain." (Via WOIO) "Half of us immediately delete all digital files of our ex immediately after a breakup. It's all gone, deleted, gone. But regret immediately follows that." (Via WMAQ) But the study shows that what's most dreaded for couples calling it quits is changing that Facebook relationship status. Yup, and not to mention the inevitable flow of comments to come. (Via HowtoVideoInfo / YouTube) We should note the study only involved about 24 participants, but some of the researchers have proposed a way to combat the social media blues if you've got 'em. "New software should be created that could automatically put pictures and video of an ex-lover in a Pandora's box of sorts. Right, I think it's a good idea." (Via WDAF) Well, they do say  "out of sight, out of mind."