6 days ago

CBS Mornings Examines New Digital Boundaries of Cheating in 2026

Cheating used to mean things like kissing or having sex with someone else.

The internet has made the rules less clear.

Some people now call smaller acts “micro-cheating.”

These acts can include secret romantic messages, private calls, or keeping a dating app.

Hiding conversations with fake names or deleting messages can also break a partner’s trust.

Some people think emotional closeness with another person hurts more than a physical mistake.

Keeping reminders from an old relationship may also be considered cheating by some people.

Couples may need to talk clearly about what behavior crosses their boundaries.

Key facts

Program: CBS Mornings
Five listed behaviors: Ongoing flirtatious texts, secret late-night calls, maintaining a dating app, using fake contact names, and deleting messages.
Term used: “Micro-cheating” describes certain online connections or acts of digital intimacy that may violate relationship boundaries.
Earlier survey report: A 2017 CBS Philadelphia report based on a YouGov survey found broad agreement that kissing and intercourse constitute cheating.
Younger respondents’ view: The article says CBS Mornings hosts found that many young people consider an intimate emotional connection more incriminating than physical intercourse.
Additional example: Keeping mementoes from past relationships may be considered cheating in some cases.

theprint.in · 6 days ago