I hate love. Love for years has been portrayed as the most important, if not only goal in life. Films, television shows, and social media bombard us with the utmost romantic gestures, dramatic love stories, and picture-perfect relationships. Honestly, is love and romance really that? The representations of love across media have affected our expectations in ways that are now damaging, especially for a teenager who is working his or her way out of how to manage relationships. Love is far deeper than what we see on screens, and it’s time we look at it from a better perspective.
From fairy tales where a prince saves a princess and then they live happily ever after right through to the romantic comedies which will convince many that love is about fate, passion, and over-the-top declarations, we are constantly exposed to these tales. Social media influencers make relationships look undeniably perfect, thereby creating the illusion that love is effortless and always exciting.
The issue with these portrayals is that they create unrealistic expectations. Many teens start to believe that for love to be real, it must be intense, dramatic, or flawless. If a relationship isn’t filled with constant excitement, some might think something is wrong and give up too soon. In reality, love is not always about the butterflies in the stomach or grand gestures; it’s about commitment, understanding, and effort.
Due to the media, students in high school typically enter a relationship with an incorrect view of what love is. Some think that their partner should never make mistakes, always say and do the right things, often in movies. Others believe love should hit them out of nowhere, magically, instead of building up through time. Such expectations make real relationships seem unsatisfactory or too much work to invest time and energy in.
Another big issue at stake is the glorification of toxic relationships. Most TV series and movies make unstable behavior look romantic. Jealousy, controlling actions, or extreme highs and lows in emotions. Movie and book characters manipulating or mistreating their partners is shown as passionate or intense love. In real life, true love is built on respect, trust, and mutual care–not on emotional manipulation or eternal toxicity.
Another way the media destroys our perception of love is by keeping the idea that all love must come in the romantic form. While romance may be meaningful, it definitely does not stand alone in forms of love. The love between friends, the love among members of a family, and even the love we hold for ourselves is not at all diminished.
When a person becomes obsessed with romance in high school, friendships can always be cast aside. The media has taught us that love is happiness, though strong friendships seem to bring people the same or at least similar feelings too. It’s about helping others, trying to care and support them-through love.
The real-life kind of love doesn’t dwell in dramatic rain confessions and fiery passion but has to do with choosing to take care of someone over and over, even on non-exciting days. Being there with each other means comprehending imperfections in a partner, yet growing as individuals together. It is communicating with each other rather than assuming or expecting someone should know exactly what is running through the mind. It means respect, valuing each other’s boundaries, opinions, and personal space. Love requires effort because it isn’t just a feeling; it’s something that takes time, patience, and understanding. It also includes support, encouraging each other’s goals, and helping each other become better people.
It’s important to recognize that the media doesn’t always depict love realistically. Instead of trying to model our relationships after movies or social media couples, we should focus on what truly makes a relationship healthy and meaningful. We should appreciate the small, everyday acts of love—like a friend checking in, a family member supporting us, or a partner simply being there when we need them.
Love isn’t perfect, and it’s not meant to be. It’s not always exciting, and it doesn’t always look like a movie. But when it’s real, it’s deeper, stronger, and more meaningful than anything the media could ever portray.
