Boyfriend refuses to post me/hides me from certain people

[curlyblondey]

To set the scene, I’ve been with my boyfriend officially for a year. Unofficially for 4. I KNOW this is pathetic but he’s never posted me on social media. I would love for him to post a pic of us but he never has. Until this week that is. We’re on our first holiday and he posted a picture of us on his IG story. I know it’s pathetic but I was literally overjoyed, just felt so happy that he was finally acknowledging me in public etc. Then I thought about it and remembered you could restrict who sees your stories…I asked and he admitted to hiding it from his ex and her family (not sure who else as a huge argument ensued). It’s made me feel really shitty. I don’t want to ruin the holiday, am I being dramatic for being hurt by it?

Suppose the clarification from op about sort of relationship for 4 years will help us answer…

Please don’t waste any more time on this man

"Unofficially for four years" - I sense a huge back story here.

Do you feel he hides you away in real life? Does he avoid introducing you to his friends and family? If so then you shouldn't put up with this at all - it's a very toxic relationship and you're better off out of it.

If that's not the case then it looks like you're the one putting too much emphasis on social media. I don't know why you felt the need to dig and question about whether that post was hidden. It would literally never occur to me to quiz a partner about their social media settings and that seems very unhealthy.

What is his relationship with his ex now? Still friends? Not friends but in the same social circle so need to keep the peace? More toxic than that?

@Alonghairinapie

How can you be unofficially with someone for 4 years?

I would LOVE to know this. OP, there are only two reasons to “hide” you on social media: shame or you’re the other woman and he lied about it. The end. You wasted four years. You’ve wasted an “official” fifth year, apparently? How much more?

If you started out as the other woman, this is only to be expected. A lot of details are missing from your post.

Unofficially together for 4 years? There is going to be a huge backstory here, isn't there? Think I will wait to see what it is first.

What does Unofficially for 4 (years) mean please OP?