Photos of flawless couples tagged with #RelationshipGoals have been plastered all over social media, signaling the envied expectation of being a perfect duo. Social media twists what love should truly look like into a cookie-cutter portrayal of the “ideal relationship,” causing many teens to walk into a relationship for the wrong reasons. Couples should not be defined or pressured by ‘relationship goals’; everybody expresses love differently, and the stereotypical standards which media and society set are not what all relationships should look like.

Media continues to cover up the real and cherishable parts of being in a relationship with someone. Instagram or Tumblr may paint a pretty picture of what the ‘ideal’ relationship looks like, but those images don’t show the important side of being with a girl or guy. What about the way a couple handles conflict? Or their loyalty to each other and how they speak of one another? People should stay focused on the important aspects of being with someone rather than what their relationship looks like from the outside.

“They will probably be in a unhappy relationship if they’re obsessing over what they want to be,” said junior Sophie Grieser, “It’s better to be present in your relationship. If you expect all this stuff, then you’re not going to be happy because no one’s relationship is perfect,”

The problem is, media convinces teens that their relationship needs to look perfect and meet standards of “relationship goals.” Not all couples do yoga together, go on long beach walks, are into excessive amounts of physical affection. Those expectations are unrealistic and unhealthy. Any person who hopes to be in a relationship to obtain that same image needs to change his/her mindset. No relationship will ever be successful if a couple focuses solely on how the world perceives their relationship.

“It’s not important, your relationship is just yours and how people see you should not matter, no matter what the media says,” said junior Joshua Allinson.

When a couple holds all these unspoken expectations of what they want to look like on social media, the base which the relationship is built upon will become shaky. Love should never be defined by material things. Yes, it is important for couples to make one another feel loved and special, but in the end, will all those expensive gifts and grand gestures mean anything important? Constantly wanting to get noticed for a seemingly perfect relationship on social media means nothing because media can never see the other side of the relationship – the emotional side that actually matters.

No more seeking approval and striving to be #RelationshipGoals. If anybody wants a serious relationship, stop admiring superficial aspects on social media and start paying attention to health and validity.