180 Days. Yes, six months of silence. Embarking on a new relationship is similar to getting the keys to a new car. Well, without the pending car payment, need for fuel, and worry your friend is going to spill their Caramel Latte on your fresh leather seats. It’s similar in a sense that you want to slay everyone — Beyoncé-style — and show off the new love in your life.

I recall getting the keys to my first brand new car. Windows down, radio speakers bumping and nowhere important to go. I must have driven that day for an hour or more around the city. Seeing others gawk at my new wheels assured me back then. It made me feel like I arrived and that I was worthy of beautiful things.

The analogy works in some ways, but new partners can break down sooner than the latest model of luxury vehicle.

I write in my new book, Love Laws, about the relevancy of Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat and how they have become the new gateway entrance — not for drugs — but attention.

A few years back I learned the lesson of social media and love. 2008 was the year I started posting photos of me and my soon to be wife on Facebook. I remember the feeling of finality, a cloud in a sense, that drew over my emotions after posting to the world. Not of regret, but a miscalculation. What if this relationship didn’t work out? What if an ex came out and spoke of my past? How would I handle a guy commenting on her page so soon? Is it fair if she interacts with guys since we are just dating?

The six-month mark is equal to a fork in the road. Jitters and nerves have gone away. You are now forced with making a decision. Turn right and you are committing to what could be a promising future. Turn left and you are choosing to remain friends with a possible revisitation of a relationship down the road. You have six months to pretend, wine and dine, have movie dates and maybe an out-of-town trip. At some point, things must evolve. If you don’t enjoy their company now, that probably won’t change in six more months. This is a major reason why privacy is vital. It allows you to shift course without much public explanation.

Think of your new love connection as a new-born baby. The auntie with the smokers breath and dirty coat doesn’t stand a chance holding your baby. What about the neighbor you don’t like too much, any chance she holds your newborn?

Probably not, your newborn baby is precious. Not just because of their soft hair and good-smelling skin. But more so because they are still developing. Their needs to breathe air, see clearly, hear the environment, etc. are vital to life.

Have you ever read the comments on a celebrity’s status of them and a new bae? It can be harsh, deafening with hate and shade. Furthermore, “it goes down in the DM” for many new couples. Social media is no stranger to the comeback. Seeing an old flame with a new buddy can lead to someone running the comeback play. First the DM, then liking a few photos and commenting with some heart and smile emojis. The old flame would never prowl if they weren’t privy to your information. You wouldn’t have so many enemies if you stopped sharing all your business with your friends and followers.

Change the settings on your connection to private and not public sharing. You don’t need likes to find love and surely don’t need new followers for friends. Social media is dope, but we must resist its magnetic pull on the areas of our life not yet ready for its power.