LOS ANGELES, Jan 27: In a time when celebrity relationships are constantly documented and discussed on social media, Zendaya and Tom Holland stand out for their decision to keep their romance relatively private. Unlike many celebrities who use their platforms to publicly share their engagements, breakups, or family milestones, this couple is among a select few who have chosen to stay away from the all-consuming world of online coupledom.

The Golden Globes ceremony on January 5, 2025, proved to be a significant moment for "Tomdaya" fans. Zendaya attended the event without her boyfriend, Holland, but sparked curiosity when she wore a diamond ring on her left ring finger. Social media buzzed with speculation, and even inside the event, many wondered whether Holland had proposed. TMZ and People soon confirmed the engagement, citing sources close to the couple. However, neither Zendaya nor Holland made a celebratory post about the news.

In an era where social media is often used by celebrities to stay ahead of rumors and shape their own narratives, Zendaya and Holland’s decision to remain private is striking. "There’s a lot of old-school elegance to keeping your private life private and talking to the press when you are ready in a careful way," said Jane Owen, founder of Jane Owen Public Relations, in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment.

Zendaya and Holland’s relationship has been one of the most closely guarded in Hollywood. The two first met in 2016 during a chemistry read for Spider-Man: Homecoming and eventually landed roles as love interests in the movie and its sequels, Spider-Man: Far From Home (2018) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Their chemistry on screen sparked rumors about their off-screen relationship, which grew louder as they promoted Far From Home together. Fans began to speculate about their bond, citing their similar mannerisms and easy rapport during press tours.

Their romance was confirmed in 2021 when paparazzi captured the couple sharing a kiss — a moment they did not intentionally make public. Three years later, Zendaya and Holland continue to keep their relationship largely out of the public eye. Aside from occasional mentions in interviews or a heartfelt birthday post, they do not often share more than they are comfortable with.

“Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public. I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love. But also, I do have control over what I choose to share,” Zendaya said in an interview with Elle in 2023. “It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist. You can’t hide. That’s not fun either. I am navigating it more than ever now.”

According to Owen, social media has become a tool for celebrities to share information on their own terms, but the pressure to constantly update followers is a heavy burden. “Social media is still a great way for celebrities to put out information they want to,” Owen said. “But I think that the worldwide addiction to social media and the pressure to keep up a certain flow of information and content is a lot to deal with.”

Zendaya and Holland aren’t the only stars avoiding oversharing about their relationships. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, as well as Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, are also setting similar boundaries. Swift and Kelce have been dating since September 2023 but have only posted a couple of pictures together, while Chalamet and Jenner, who’ve been linked since April 2023, have yet to share any photos together on social media.

Though these couples have been seen out and about together—attending games, concerts, and events—they refrain from making their relationships the subject of public online displays.

The decision to maintain privacy in a public relationship can influence how connected fans feel to their favorite stars. Bradley Bond, a communications professor at the University of California, San Diego, explained the concept of parasocial relationships, where fans feel a sense of connection to celebrities despite not actually interacting with them. "We maintain our relationships through reciprocal disclosure," Bond said. "Our real-life friendships we maintain by sharing information about ourselves. When we share about ourselves, we typically encourage the other person subconsciously to share about themselves."

Fans often feel a sense of ownership over celebrities’ personal details, Bond said, but when stars keep aspects of their lives, like relationships, private, it can result in what he calls an "expectancy violation." "We know they’re in a relationship, but [if] neither one of them [is] sharing details of that relationship in a public forum, then it can make us feel less connected," Bond said.

Some celebrities, however, are more open about their relationships. Selena Gomez, for example, has shared her romance with music producer Benny Blanco on social media, posting multiple photos of the couple. In December 2024, she even announced their engagement on Instagram.

According to Bond, couples who are more open about their relationships online often build stronger parasocial bonds with their fans. "If a celebrity couple is pretty open about their relationship, then that just gives their audience more information,” he said. "Those who do have a parasocial bond can utilize that information to strengthen the parasocial relationship or to diminish it.”

However, even stars who are private about their relationships, like Zendaya and Holland, still maintain a loyal fan base. "It’s not like you’ve invested time in going to their milestone events and buying them bridal shower gifts and things like in our real-life relationships," Bond explained. "Most fans of somebody like [Zendaya] are unlikely to dissolve those parasocial bonds simply because they don’t know enough about their romantic relationship."

Despite the pressures of living in a social media age, celebrities like Zendaya and Holland, who choose to share only what they feel comfortable with, remind us that their personal lives remain their own. Whether or not they make public announcements about their relationships, fans should respect the boundaries these stars set for themselves.