My April Fools’ Day prank was funny, but some social media-related pranks were not so funny.
One April Fools’ trend that I did not enjoy were the numerous relationship status updates in my Facebook newsfeed: new relationships, broken relationships, engagements, and marriages. The fake relationship status was all the rage this year!
I was confused because one of my friends actually DID get engaged, and another friend actually DID enter a relationship. However, I didn’t know for sure until later in the day because all the couples-crying-wolf stole their thunder.
I actually like creative April Fools’ Day day pranks, but something about these fake relationship status updates made me a little miffed. I would actually love to see some of the couples who pulled this stunt engaged or married; when the announcement entered my newsfeed, I was momentarily really happy, then confused, then PISSED* at them.
After I came to terms with the reality of the situation, I thought, “What an awkward conversation that must have been!”
I tried to imagine it.
One Half: I have a great idea for an April Fools’ Day prank we can do together.
Better Half: I love doing things together! What is it?
One Half: Let’s get pretend-engaged on Facebook! We’ll change our relationship statuses so all our friends think I asked you to marry me. Then, a few hours later, we can change them back.
Better Half: Yeah, that’s a great idea! I love you so much.
Vomit in my mouth.
If you couldn’t sense the awkwardness in my dialogue, just know that the conversation would be all kinds of AWKWARD, even more awkward than if “One Half” had mentioned a sudden curiosity about golden showers.
Before Facebook, only the strangest of strange would pull such a prank. Would a girl wear a fake engagement ring to work so that her coworkers could fawn over her, only to find out later she was just kidding?
“JK! I’m not really engaged!”
No.
Maybe I’m alone in thinking this, but I don’t think couples should joke about a relationship status, neither publicly nor privately. What if “Better Half” actually really wanted to get engaged? Slap in the FACEbook.
*I still love you.
(Photo by re-ality)
Poor Sonja Nork, always getting jerked around on April 1.
I have a friend who did this, but he went so far as to text all of his friends to tell them he was engaged. It is difficult to envision the brainstorming process behind such a prank! Awkward to say the least…