Is your new boyfriend acting single on social media? That’s definitely a cause for concern!
Maybe you’ve been dating him for a couple of months now and things seem to be going well. You really like him and think he’s developing feelings for you too.
However, you’ve noticed something strange about his social media profiles—his relationship status is still ‘single’ and there are no mentions or photos of you anywhere.
This is making you feel confused and insecure. If your partner is acting single online, you have every right to be concerned about the future of your relationship.
People always have reasons for doing certain things, so watch out for any red flags that indicate something is off.
In this article, we look at some common reasons why a guy acts single on social media and how to know if he’s double dating.
Read on to find out the top reasons why your man is hiding your relationship online and what you can do about it.
8 REASONS WHY A GUY ACTS SINGLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
When a guy acts single on social media while being in a committed relationship, it can be a source of confusion and worry.
You may be wondering if he’s seeing someone else or doesn’t love you anymore.
It’s understandable to be concerned about your guy’s behavior, especially if you’re deeply in love with him.
However, you shouldn’t jump to conclusions before knowing the truth.
While many people have different reasons for behaving in a certain way, a guy may pretend to be single online for the following reasons:
1. He’s keeping his options open
One of the biggest reasons why guys act single online is because they want to keep their options open and explore the possibility of other relationships.
They may not be fully committed or satisfied in their current relationship and use social media as a means to meet new people.
If your boyfriend is posting selfies, sharing inside jokes with female friends, and liking flirty comments from other women, he might be exploring other options.
But don’t read too much meaning into it—he may just crave extra attention and validation.
Many men are addicted to the thrill of the chase on social media. The likes, the flirtatious messages, and the possibility of something more give them an ego boost.
But at the end of the day, you’re the one actually dating your man in real life.
As long as he’s fully focused on you when you’re together, a little harmless social media flirting likely means nothing.
However, if he’s also being shady in person or you catch him in an actual lie, that’s a major red flag. Don’t be afraid to call him out on his BS and set clear boundaries.
You deserve a guy who will proudly show you off online and make you feel like the only woman in his world, both on social media and when you’re face to face!
2. He craves attention and validation
This might be surprising to know but guys can be attention seekers too!
If your man constantly posts selfies, shares details about his life, and never mentions you on social media, it could be because he craves validation from others.
He loves the likes and comments he gets on his posts. All those hearts, wows, and fire emojis feed his ego in a big way.
Don’t get jealous though, it’s really just an insecurity thing. The more likes he gets, the more admired and accepted he feels.
You can help him to feel less insecure about himself by complimenting his looks, talents, or personality.
Remember to make eye contact, touch him gently, and speak sincerely when you want to say something nice about him.
Real-life validation will mean so much more to him than any social media attention.
Also, suggest doing fun activities together like taking a dance class or volunteering at an animal shelter.
Post photos of the two of you on your social accounts. Tag him and include captions about what an amazing experience it was sharing it with your man.
With your loving support, in time he should become less focused on gaining validation from others and more appreciative of the meaningful relationship he has with you.
So shower him with affection, plan memorable dates together, and don’t forget to talk about your experiences.
Eventually, his need for extra attention and ego-boosting will fade, and your bond will grow stronger.
3. He wants to appear more desirable
Some guys just can’t get enough of the ego boost that comes from having women like and comment on their social media posts.
They want to appear desirable and sought after to feed their need for external validation.
For these attention-seeking people, portraying themselves as single on social media translates to more likes, hearts, and flirty comments from women who think they have a shot.
If your guy is acting single, he may not actually follow through with any of these women in real life, but he sure does love that little red notification telling him someone new has stroked his ego.
The desire to feel wanted and admired is human, but be wary of anyone who relies too heavily on what strangers think of them on the Internet.
Real men don’t need to deceive others to make themselves feel good. Look for a guy who knows his worth and doesn’t rely on being fake to appear more desirable than he really is.
4. He has commitment issues
Another reason why a guy may hide his relationship on social media is because he’s afraid of commitment.
Some guys just aren’t ready to settle down yet. They want to keep their options open in case someone “better” comes along.
If his social media profiles say he’s single, he can continue flirting with and dating other women without technically lying about his relationship status.
Maybe he loves being chased and having women fawn all over him. As long as he appears available, the direct messages and comments will keep pouring in from interested ladies.
The validation and ego boost he gets from this behavior is addictive. Even though he has a girlfriend, he can’t seem to give up the admiration and flirtation from other women.
Deep down, he may not feel like he deserves an amazing partner, so he seeks out external validation from random women online.
If lots of ladies on social media think he’s attractive and charming, it helps quiet his self-doubt.
His insecurity also makes him hesitant to publicly declare he’s off the market in a relationship.
He’s worried once he changes his status, the interest from other women may fade away.
The reasons behind this behavior could be complex, but it often comes down to commitment issues, craving attention, or insecurity.
The only way to know for sure is through open communication with your guy to clarify where you both stand and what you want from the relationship.
5. He’s not ready to be tied down
A major reason why a guy may act single on social media is because he’s just not ready for anything serious yet.
Some guys value their independence and aren’t looking to be tied down in a relationship, at least not at the moment.
Don’t read too much into a guy’s social media activity. His social media habits don’t necessarily reflect his true feelings.
How a man portrays himself on Instagram or Facebook isn’t always an accurate representation of what’s really going on in his personal life or how he truly feels about you.
He may act single online to keep his options open or because he’s just not ready to announce your relationship to the world yet.
Give him space and time. When he’s ready to commit to you fully, his social media profiles will reflect that.
Dropping hints that you’re together or changing your relationship status before he’s ready could backfire. Some guys feel pressured or smothered by overeager partners.
Even if you’re ready to go public, hold off until you’ve had an open conversation about what you both want and come to an agreement together.
Rushing into things often does more harm than good, so try to be more patient with your man, especially if you’re in a new relationship.
6. He wants to keep his love life private
Another common reason why a guy acts single is because he wants some privacy in his relationship!
Some guys just aren’t comfortable broadcasting their love life all over social media.
Keeping things off of Facebook and Instagram allows him to keep some parts of the relationship private and just between the two of you.
While it may seem like he’s trying to appear single, he really just wants to keep your connection out of the public eye.
Don’t take it personally—your relationship isn’t any less real or meaningful just because he’s not posting cute couple photos or tagging you in memes.
Lots of happy, committed couples choose to keep things low-key on social media. As long as he shows you affection in real life, that’s what matters!
Have an open conversation with your guy about social media and set some boundaries you’re both comfortable with.
Maybe you’re fine with some posts but not constant updates. Or perhaps you prefer to avoid oversharing details of your relationship online altogether.
Coming to an understanding together will help put your mind at ease and strengthen your connection.
At the end of the day, what happens between you two privately is far more important than how things appear on social media.
Focus on nurturing your real-life relationship – the rest will follow in time!
7. He’s hiding his relationship from the public
A guy who is planning on having many girlfriends will choose to hide his relationship status from others so he won’t get caught.
If no one knows he’s already in a romantic relationship, he can continue to flirt and cheat with different women without any consequence.
Plus his family and friends won’t know who is dating at the moment and won’t ask unnecessary questions about his love life.
Many guys also deliberately keep their relationship off social media because of haters and people who may want to sabotage their relationship.
While your boyfriend’s behavior may seem harmless on the surface, it often signifies deeper issues with commitment, honesty, or self-esteem.
If he’s hiding you from the world, he may not value you the way you deserve. On the other hand, he could have a valid reason for hiding your relationship from the public.
Have an open and honest conversation with him about his behavior. Let him know his actions make you feel unimportant and disrespected.
Give him a chance to do right by you, but don’t settle for less than you’re worth.
8. He’s planning to get back with his ex
Another reason why a guy acts single online and posts selfies like he’s still on the market is because he wants his ex to see what she’s missing!
Some guys think that by acting single on social media, their ex will realize they made a mistake and come running back.
While it may seem like immature behavior, it comes from a place of hurt and longing for a past relationship.
He’s hoping that by showing how desirable he is, his ex will have a change of heart.
The truth is, these kinds of petty games usually end up backfiring. His ex likely knows exactly what he’s trying to do and will see right through the act.
The healthiest thing for him to do is accept the breakup and work on healing and bettering himself.
Talk to him about how you feel, set some boundaries, and make sure you’re on the same page about the relationship status and what you both expect.
Conclusion
Now you understand some of the common reasons why a guy acts single on social media.
If you’re seeing a guy who is behaving like you don’t exist in his life, don’t let his behavior get you down or make you question yourself.
Remember that social media often highlights only the exciting parts of life, not the mundane day-to-day. His posts likely have little to do with how he feels about you.
Some guys just aren’t ready to fully commit to a relationship, even if they really like you. The idea of labeling it “official” freaks them out.
Don’t take it personally – it’s not about you, it’s about his own fears and insecurities. The best thing you can do is give him space and time.
Let him know you care about him but you also respect whatever pace he needs to go at. If it’s meant to be, he’ll come around when he’s ready!
However, if you notice he’s consistently flirting with other women, ignoring you, and sleeping around, don’t hesitate to end the relationship.
You deserve to be with someone who will stay committed to you and not leave you guessing. If he’s not that guy, keep looking!
Recommended reading:
10 Obvious Signs You’re In A Fake Relationship
7 Obvious Signs He’s Hiding Your Relationship
15 Crystal Clear Signs He Pretends To Love You
About The Author
Jennifer Dagi
Jennifer Dagi is happily married to her best friend and the love of her life.
As a relationship coach, she is passionate about helping couples build healthy and happy relationships.
She strongly believes communication and intimacy are the most important ingredients for building a successful relationship.
Join her on a fabulous journey to improve your love life one step at a time and don't forget to subscribe for weekly blog updates.