FORGET about the love, Valentine's Day is all about the money and the chance to change your Facebook relationship status.
Facebook says last year more than 75,000 Australians updated their relationship in the days that followed Valentine's Day as singles hooked up and couples committed to each other for life.
The data released in the lead-up to the big day on Saturday shows that in the four days after Valentine's Day last year, more than 12,000 people changed their status to "married" and 13,000 people changed their status from "single" to "in a relationship".
Not that everyone has a happy Valentine's Day. The study found 10,000 Australians did not share the love last year and switched their status from "in a relationship" to "single" in the four days after February 14.
The analysis of how Aussies used Facebook to like their love found that more than 50 per cent of people who talk about Valentine's Day gifts are in the 18-34 age group.
The most talked about topic on Valentine's Day on Facebook are the big three issues close to everyone's heart: love, chocolate and life.
The Facebook study reinforces the financial aspect of the day that is supposed to be all about the love.
IBIS data last year found Australians spend about $790 million on Valentine's Day, including $441 million on romantic getaways for the weekend and $42 million on going out to dinner for a Valentine's Day date night.
The average Valentine's Day spend, according to the IBIS data, is $86 -- or, priceless, if you're a true romantic.
Originally published as Proof that Valentine's Day works
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/facebook-data-shows-aussies-change-relationship-status-following-valentines-day/story-fni0byb4-1227214914276?from=herald+sun_rss
