If you are of a certain generation, then everyone you’ve ever dated has something in common. They are all on social media, and they are likely part of your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram experience. As New York Magazine’s Maureen O’Connor explains, the social media generation never really breaks up. “There was also a time, I am told, when staying in touch was difficult. Exes were characters from a foreclosed past, symbols from former and forgone lives. Now they are part of the permanent present. I was a college freshman when Facebook launched. All my exes live online, and so do their exes, and so do their exes, too.” I’m a little too old to be directly affected by this new reality. In my generation, we’re mostly worried that our kids will someday read our old Tweets.

(Scheduling note: NextDraft will be only be published on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week.)