WHAT IS MICRO-CHEATING?

 

M̽I̽C̽R̽O̽-̽C̽H̽E̽A̽T̽I̽N̽G̽ refers to small, subtle actions that may not be classified as full-blown infidelity but can still be harmful to a relationship. These actions can indicate emotional or physical disconnection and can undermine trust. While the boundaries for what constitutes micro-cheating vary for different people, here are some common types of behaviors that fall under this category:

𝟏. 𝑭𝒍𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒆

Complimenting someone excessively, giving them extra attention, or engaging in intimate conversations (either in person or through digital communication) that you wouldn’t feel comfortable with your partner witnessing.

𝟐. 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒙

Maintaining private conversations or text exchanges with someone else, especially when it’s kept hidden from your partner.

𝟑. 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂

Regularly liking or commenting on someone’s social media posts in a way that is more than friendly and may hint at attraction.

𝟒. 𝑯𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

Clearing your browser history, erasing conversations, or making sure your partner doesn't see your phone when you’re texting or interacting with others online.

𝟓. 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒚

Confiding in someone else about personal struggles, sharing your thoughts and feelings in ways that you don’t share with your partner, or relying on someone else for emotional support instead of your partner.

𝟔. 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

Telling someone that they look "hot" or "beautiful" in a way that goes beyond casual politeness, especially if you’re already in a committed relationship.

𝟕. 𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉

Hugging someone longer than necessary, touching someone's arm or back in an intimate way, or being overly touchy with someone in social situations.

𝟖. 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒆

Saying things like, “She’s so much more fun than you,” or “I wish you looked like him/her.”

𝟗. 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑺𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

Not mentioning that you spent time with someone else, or hiding details about a new friendship that could be perceived as crossing boundaries.

𝟏𝟎. 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 "𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉"

Developing a crush or emotional attachment to someone in your workplace or social circle while still being in a committed relationship.

𝟏𝟏. 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓

Viewing pornography or engaging in any sexualized media consumption without discussing it with your partner, especially if it's hidden or done in secret.

𝟏𝟐. 𝑬𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 "𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈" 𝑩𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓𝒔

Engaging in online behavior that mimics dating interactions (e.g., creating a profile, chatting, or sharing romantic messages) while still in a committed relationship.

𝟏𝟑. 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

• Sharing relationship issues or vulnerabilities with someone who could develop romantic feelings toward you, thereby becoming a source of emotional attachment.

 

If you find that you or your partner are engaging in behaviors that might be classified as micro-cheating, it’s important to have a conversation about your feelings, boundaries, and the health of the relationship.