Is online infidelity really cheating?

We are more mobile than ever: glued to that smartphone everywhere and always. Or at least not further away from you than a meter or two.

Digital times also call for different ways of relationships. We don't just date online by swiping left, we also cheat. But is online infidelity really cheating or is it more innocent than that?

Research has been done on this.

It turns out that we find real sex the worst – logical. After that comes falling in love: we would find it very upsetting if our partner is smitten with someone else after sex. But: doing sexual things on camera we find almost just as bad. And thus also cheating. We feel just as hurt and angry as if real sex were to take place. So yes, offline infidelity is just as painful as cheating in real life. A clever explanation for this is that our brain registers virtual experiences as comparable experiences in real life. It can lead to feelings of betrayal, insecurity, and sadness in both cases. And in both cases, you also know that something is not right in your relationship.

You may see it less, but it is there. Although online cheating may be less visible than physical cheating, the consequences can still be serious, including ending the relationship, loss of trust and self-respect, and even legal consequences such as divorce. What happens in front of a webcam is therefore not something to take lightly. Be careful with what you are up to in that gigantic online world. It may seem greener over there, on the other side of the camera. However, the grass is often greenest at home, even if you sometimes don't see it. Don't throw that away lightly.