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Vox ·Smart escape

Is It “microcheating,” or Just Being Online?

by Jonquilyn Hill

Published 2026-05-31 07:30:00-04:00

If liking a photo counts as cheating, what happens to ordinary friendship?

0:00 / 6:46 · Narrator Sulafat

Context

In an interview published on 31 May 2026, Vox pauses on the exhausting habit of microcheating—tracking a partner's likes and emojis. The discussion holds up months later because it moves past the eye-rolling to ask a sharper question. Are people actually worried about infidelity, or are they just terrified of public embarrassment? The piece captures how the internet has pushed the bar for romantic loyalty so high that it threatens normal social connection.

Show notes

A conversation about microcheating and how social media has expanded the definition of cheating. The discussion covers how small digital actions, like liking a photo or replying to a story, are now often treated as broken trust. It also examines how tracking a partner's online activity stems from a fear of public embarrassment, and why demanding complete emotional focus can damage other friendships.

Read on Vox →