Facebook official - meaning and definition
AlsoFBOInstagram officialinsta officialFBOrelationship status officialsocial media official
Definition
Publicly confirming a relationship on social media, originally by changing a Facebook relationship status, now more often through a shared post.
At a glance
- Publicly confirming a relationship on social media.
- Originally meant changing your Facebook relationship status.
- 'Insta official' is the more recent version.
- Choosing privacy online is not the same as hiding a partner.
In detail
Going "Facebook official" (FBO) or "Insta official" means announcing to your wider circle that you are a couple. For many people it marks a real step in commitment.
Couples differ a lot in how public they want to be online, so it is worth talking about rather than assuming. Choosing privacy is not the same as hiding a partner.
In a sentence
- We're not Facebook official yet, but we've met each other's parents.
- She posted a photo of us at the wedding, so I guess we're Insta official now.
Where the word comes from
The phrase grew out of Facebook's relationship status feature, which made changing your status a public announcement in the late 2000s.
Common questions
Does not posting about a partner mean someone is hiding them?
Not necessarily. Many people keep their relationships off social media for privacy or work reasons. It becomes a concern if a partner also hides you from friends and family, which is sometimes called stashing.