Boy meets girl. Girl likes boy. Boy likes girl, too. But, boy and girl decide they do not want to be in a relationship. Girl and boy do not like the idea of commitment. But boy and girl want to enjoy the perks of a relationship with each other. Thus, the “friends with benefits” relationship is created.

The “friends with benefits” relationship, or FWB, has become a cultural phenomenon for 20 to 30-year-olds. The largest group to grasp this concept is college-aged students. In fact, FWB has even earned a place on the Wikipedia website and <www.urbandictionary.com> Simply put, FWB includes the physical elements of a relationship, but not the “title” element. No labels are used because there is no actual commitment. Therefore, the “relationship status” is not changed. Each person is still considered single.

For many, this seems like the perfect idea. FWB is a way to have the cake and not gain the pounds. However, results from a recent study suggest this lack of commitment may be doing more harm than good.

Michigan State University released a study Wednesday showing that of 125 college men and women surveyed, 60 percent reported having at least one FWB relationship in their life. But, only one-tenth of these relationships went on to become full-scale, a third stopped the physical perks and remained friends, while one in four completely broke off the friendship.

While losing a friend is never beneficial, the dynamic of the friendship is hurt because of what is now physically happening in the relationship. The study found that friends, who could once talk about everything, have now lost  their openness with each other. Though the  relationships tend to have little romantic passion, one person constantly fears of falling harder than the other, according to the study. Some Tech students have also seen the downfalls of the FWB relationship. When questioned about these types of relationships, jealousy was the first word that came from most. “They say we won’t have emotional ties, but when you see that person with another person, you still feel jealous,” said a male student. A female student added, “It’s easy to say we can see other people, but it never works out.”

One student said the only time she has ever seen the FWB relationship work out is with more mature couples who live completely separate lives. Both people were successful individuals and they did not have to see each other on a daily basis, like on a college campus.The FWB relationship is a fad started by our generation. Only time will tell what this phenomenon has done to our generation and how it will affect our future commitments.