Is flirting on text cheating? If your partner considers flirting over text cheating, or if your messages would upset them, then yes — it may be considered cheating in your relationship.
For some, flirting can be deemed cheating when one partner is overly friendly with someone else, especially if this breaks previously agreed upon rules. For others, flirting is considered crossing the line into cheating when it risks turning into a physical or emotional affair.
Inappropriate texting can be considered cheating depending on a couple's boundaries around fidelity. Signs of a texting affair may include being secretive, keeping your phone down or out of sight, and flirting with others through text.
Sexting can certainly be considered a form of cheating, as it typically betrays the trust and intimacy within a committed relationship. It's normal to feel sad, angry, or lonely after being betrayed. It's also normal to feel as though you can't trust your partner, or fear that sexting is just the tip of the iceberg.
Don't use texting to build a meaningful connection.
Flirting is all about having fun and being playful, not about getting into a deep discussion. If you really like the person, try to spend more time talking to them than you do sending text messages to that person.
Expressing a romantic or sexual interest towards a person outside of your marriage is not only inappropriate flirting, but disrespectful. The spouse typically sees it this way unless you're in an open relationship in which seeking other partners is agreed upon as acceptable.
The strongest motivation for flirting face-to-face or via text was pleasure. In terms of gender differences, they found that males were more likely than females to flirt face-to-face for escape. Additionally, males were more likely to flirt via text for control and relaxation.
Micro cheating refers to acts of seemingly trivial, inappropriate behaviors that occur outside of one's devoted relationship, often done unintentionally.
Some examples of inappropriate text messages include: Sending or asking for sexually explicit photos. Texting jokes that are vulgar. Unwanted flirtation.
The emotional fallout and broken trust feel devastating, but the damage doesn't have to be permanent. Healing will take time and patience, but with open communication and a commitment to transparency from both partners, it's possible to recover and enjoy a happy, healthy marriage again.
Infidelity isn't limited to texting. Cheaters will often use laptops and tablets, and even hidden apps, to communicate with a paramour. A new favorite place for texting is Google Docs. Your partner can claim to be working, rather than sexting with a new lover.
Harmless Flirting
This can mean buying a drink in a social setting, freely giving compliments, side arm hugs or other non-sexual touches, a platonic friendship. The term “harmless” is only applicable if you are willing to disclose this behavior (without shame or concern) to your partner.
Basically, even if you never end up taking someone to bed, if you have been flirting with them and expressing your interest in them, this can count as cheating in most people's eyes. So, this brings us to our big question: is online flirting cheating? The simple answer to this question is yes.
Innocent flirting is a lighthearted and playful form of social interaction that involves casual, friendly banter, compliments, and teasing without any serious intent or expectation to pursue a romantic or sexual relationship.
Harmless flirting does exist
If you are someone married looking to flirt, harmless flirting is the way to go. You still get that buzz from being recognized by others, but you remember who your love belongs to, and you're not going too far with anything.
Don't text anything confidential, private, or potentially embarrassing. Don't be upset if your text doesn't get an immediate response—you can't know for sure when the recipient will read the message. Think of texting as a conversation: If you would respond in the conversation, then respond in the text.
Sexting can also lead to emotional affairs because you are developing a relationship over the phone which causes the emotional impact to be real and deep. You're risking your physical relationship for an online relationship taking a gamble on the possibility of what “might” happen.
In some contexts it's perfectly fine, I'd say most in fact. The problem becomes when the context of the message is something inappropriate. Every marriage is going to be different in some way, shape or form.
Micro-cheating is a term for small, sometimes unintentional actions that could be seen as minor infidelity. Examples of micro-cheating include talking to an ex on social media and lying about your relationship status to casual acquaintances.
If you're interested in someone romantically, you might flirt with them, which means to chat them up or tease them in a playful way. Flirting is an indirect and fun way to let your crush know you're interested, like a seductive line or a few coy words.
The point is to let the person know you're thinking of them, and value them enough to write a warm message that is specifically for them. It makes the receiver feel special, and making people feel special is a key tenant of a good flirt. It really does go down in the DM.
A lot of studies have shown that texting is a great way to start a romance, especially because of how convenient it is and doesn't make the people involved feel the awkwardness that comes with meeting in person. An interesting research even found that it takes 163 text messages to fall in love with someone!