With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Loyola students are looking to Facebook to keep updated on campus love.

As love fills the air, many Loyola students may find themselves prowling through Facebook profiles for the elusive “Single” qualifier on a potential date’s “Relationship Status.”

The “Relationship Status” is a facet of the “Basic Information” section of a user’s profile. Nestled in between a user’s birthday and what they are “Looking For” (from friendship to a relationship), the Relationship Status labels users as single, in a relationship, engaged, married, widowed or the more evasive “in an open relationship” or “it’s complicated.” Users even have the option of leaving the question blank — which questions in and of itself.

“I don’t have one up because I guess it’s just embarrassing to have your relationship status be on display,” said Mo Dey, English literature junior. “I would rather have people take the time to ask if I was single than just look it up on Facebook. If you actually care, you’re not going to be that lazy.”

“On the other hand, it’s a good tool for you to know if people are breaking up, or if someone is already in a relationship (and) you’re interested in them, you don’t have to pursue that,” Dey said. “And you can be updated on what relationship your friends are in when they’re away from you or you’re away from home because you probably wouldn’t know otherwise.”

The red heart indicator of a changed relationship status on a Facebook user’s homepage can be eye-catching, interest-peaking and, at times, heart-warming, according to biology junior Rebecca Connick.

“It is nice to look at that little phrase on the left of your page (‘In a Relationship’) and smile. It’s just a way to be quickly associated with your special someone,” said Connick, who is listed as “In a Relationship” with music business freshman Andrew Naquin.

However, even Connick waffles on the real significance of listing one’s relationship status on a social networking Web site.

“Yes, I think its ridiculous how something ‘isn’t official until it’s Facebook-official,’ but, of course, I buy into it along with everyone else,” Connick said. “Posting a relationship is definitely a handy way to let massive amounts of people know at once that you’re dating someone … but I waited to post my change of status until after I told my best friends and family about it.”

Music therapy sophomore Lizzie Lang said she doesn’t believe the “Facebook-official” mantra.

A relationship can definitely be official without changing Facebook status,” she said. “Facebook is not everything and is not an effective means to judge people’s relationships.”

Several people approached for an interview declined to have the details of their own relationship published, citing privacy and not wanting the business of their private lives published in the Maroon.

While the privacy controls Facebook offers can keep strangers from spying and stalking for personal details, it is easy to forget that when details of a user’s private life are published to their page, it is information that large amounts of people can access.

“I like to keep up with friends and family in other states and put pictures up to share with my friends,” Lang said, “but I don’t post my entire life on it. (I) would rather keep my personal life between me and the people involved.”

Melanie Ziems can be reached at [email protected]