I’ve been with my girlfriend for 3 years now. I have social media but I’m not really active on them. I’ll like Facebook posts, insta photos etc but I only really tend to post photos myself from holidays.

I was scrolling insta last night and liked a photo of a friend from uni. It’s someone I haven’t spoken to in years but we have each other on social media. My girlfriend saw me like the photo and asked what I was doing. I asked what her problem is.

She said I shouldn’t be liking another woman’s photos. I pointed out she was a friend and there was nothing wrong with liking a photo. I said it wasn’t sexual or anything and it was just a normal photo.

She said I shouldn’t be doing it. I pointed out it’s hardly like she just followed women, she said it wasn’t the same since she doesn’t really have male friends so any men she has on social media will be delves.

I just repeated that I’m not apologising for liking a photo and that I’ve done nothing wrong.

AIO for arguing I’ve done nothing wrong by liking a photo?

Reddit consensus: NOT OVERREACTING (NOR) (86% confidence)

Top comment: “NOR, I guess the issue might be with the fact that your girlfriend normalises not having male friends so she also has some difficulty understanding how a man can have healthy friendly relationships with women and vice versa”

Notable comment: “NOR. Like others have said it’s obvious when you’re liking thirst traps from like influencers or people you don’t really know but liking a friends photo is not problematic at all in my opinion. Even if my boyfriend liked a bikini photo of another girl, if it’s a friend of his I would really not care. I think it comes from insecurity on her end.

Also, many people just casually like photos on their feed of people who they know without paying attention. It’s generally not out of attraction”

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Even if you feel like everyone wants the same thing, all else equal, you should make clear that you want that thing. Just telling companies you care about money and find it motivating will sometimes get you raises you wouldn't have otherwise. Notice that this is very different than "I'm only in it for the money" - you don't need to rank your preferences. Strict approval voting. Just tell 'em what you like.

For example, I like money, compliments, kisses, feeling included, feeling special, naturally expiring gifts like flowers, letters (including digital ones i.e. heartfelt emails), sweets, hearing from people, talking about my baby, and being invited places.

I think all of these are pretty common things to like, to the point that if you asked "do you like X" for most things on the list the person you asked would suspect they were being pranked or Socrates'd or something.

Even so, people routinely have vague positive feelings about other people (maybe even you), and are not sure how to act on them, and if there's a big bright sign that says "this thing will work" then they might try that thing. People are busy and wrapped up in their own stuff and often spare cognitive capacity is the bottleneck. Find a way to remind people of your name, and what you like.

FAQ

Q: What if what I like is relevant to Dating?

A: I don't know. I was cursed/blessed (blessed) by a magnificent medallion that made it impossible for me to contribute to dating discourse, sorry, you are on your own

Q: What if I like something embarrassing?

A: A little bravery is often charming but you can also just focus on the stuff that you like that is totally safe

Q: What if I am afraid of putting myself out there, and thereby making it feel more painful if I don't get the thing I like?

A: Knock that off

Q: How do I gracefully fit this into conversation?

A: That's the neat part! You don't. You can just assert it baldly. Like a three year old.

Q: Really?

A: Yeah. A lot of happiness is just orienting towards what you like, rather than orienting to what you don't like. Also, happiness is infectious. If you say "I like ice cream" you are actually doing everyone around you a favor, by reminding them of ice cream, and liking

Q: Won't it seem like I'm tacitly making demands?