Expert breaks down 'micro-cheating' as Justin Bieber reveals his divisive definition of cheating

Justin Bieber has gained some attention for where he draws the line when it comes to cheating in a relationship.

He's been married to his wife Hailey since 2018 and is now a father, and according to the singer, he's got a very clear idea of what kind of behaviour counts as cheating on her.

"If you even think of a woman with lust, it's the same thing as actually doing it, committing adultery, whatever," he said on a livestream.

"It's the same thing, so it's like if it even just crosses your mind for one second."

His comments split opinion over whether thinking lustfully about a woman who wasn't your partner counted as cheating, while many others pointed out that he was basically quoting the Bible.

While Bieber knows where he draws the line, relationship expert Abby Medcalf explained what 'micro-cheating' was and whether it counted as betraying the trust of your partner.

Justin Bieber knows where he draws the line (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

What is 'micro-cheating'?

We should probably sort this out before we go any further.

According to the relationship expert: "Micro-cheating covers things that happen outside a committed relationship that are relatively small, and are usually happening, I think, really always happening through apps, texting, social media.

"You know, sliding into someone's DMs, liking, or commenting on someone's photos all the time, that kind of thing."

Medcalf said that she doesn't believe 'micro cheating happens much in real life' since the examples people give of real world behaviour are closer to 'emotional affairs'.

Explaining the difference between 'micro-cheating' and an 'emotional affair' she said the latter was more like your partner having 'a work husband that she's getting very close with, and they start sharing lunches outside the office' or 'your man has been going to the local bar and spending all his time chatting with the female bartender instead of his buddies'.

So, to her, micro-cheating is more on the technological side of things, but lots of people were engaging in an emotional affair, which was even worse.

While Justin Bieber reckons that thinking lustfully about another woman is cheating, it sounds like micro-cheating and emotional affairs go another step further.

"I bet you're commenting on her latest photo. It's not on." (Getty Stock Photo)

Is it cheating?

As for whether this is all cheating, the relationship expert was pretty dang clear on that front.

She said: "Well yeah, it's got cheating in the damn title.

"You can focus on the 'micro' all you want, but it's still cheating if it's outside the boundaries of the rules of your relationship. And that is always the key with any kind of cheating, emotional affairs, whatever, everything."

However, while she classes it as cheating, the expert was keen to stress that 'what constitutes cheating is different in every single relationship' and it's for you and your partner to figure out.

If Justin Bieber says that thinking lustful thoughts about other women is cheating, then for his relationship, it is, and if you don't think your partner should be sliding into other people's DMs or forever messaging them online, then that's cheating in your relationship.