Have you ever considered the criteria for recognizing a couple as official on social media sites? You may have felt annoyed that your partner’s ex liked his/her new profile photo. You may have used social networking to spy on someone after a breakup that you thought was your successor. You have probably answered yes to these questions at least once. Our relationships today are heavily influenced by social networking platforms. It is, therefore, useful to gain a deeper understanding of the answers that science can provide to these questions.
We all have an idea of how we want to be perceived by others. (Goffman’s Self-presentation Theory) This also leads to a strong desire for us to control what impressions are made about us. social networking allows us to present ourselves the way we wish. That is why identity-presentation is a (or more likely the) core motivation of social media usage (2). Our social lives are often conducted online. This means that our romantic relationships also have a digital footprint. In the virtual worlds of social networks, romantic relationships are often formed, maintained, and even ended. Online platforms change not just the context but also the content that’s displayed about a relationship. social networks have expanded the rules for sharing personal information. Scrolling down your Instagram or Facebook feed, you will notice that information which was private only a few short years ago has now been made public. What impact has this had on romantic relationships, and how?
Does Social Media bring the Green-Eyed Monster out or make us more dedicated?
Several studies have examined the impact that social networking sites can have on our everyday lives, including our romantic relationships. Overall, the picture is ambivalent. In this respect, social networking seems to generate at least as many conflicts as pleasures in even the most harmonious and trusted relationships. In one of the first empirical investigations into this issue, it was found that SNSs trigger our fear of abandonment due to their unique features. For example, Facebook offers a lot of information but is easy to misinterpret without the right context (3). Moreover, our friends can comment and follow every piece of content that is related to our relationship. Not to mention, the history of our previous relationships can also be seen by our current partner if we’re not careful enough. Snapchat is more geared towards flirting and can elicit even stronger negative feelings. Snapchat, which allows users to see who their friends are most likely to communicate with, elicits greater jealousy, according to a study. Facebook can also easily cause tension between couples (4). Instagram can be a minefield as well in this respect. Posting selfies is one of the most common activities on Instagram that can lead to negative outcomes in relationships. Due to the positive feedback they receive from their Instagram followers, users are willing to risk creating a conflict on Instagram or a negative romantic relationship outcome. In order to avoid awkward misunderstandings and awkward situations, some users make their relationships on social networks as explicit as possible. It is not always a sign of harmony to have a timeline full of pictures of happy couples. According to a study, people who are insecure regarding their partner’s emotions tend to post more about their relationship on Facebook (7). Despite all this, there is scientific evidence to support the positive effects of social networking in romantic relationships. SNSs allow couples to share their joy with their friends, which can evoke pleasant feelings. Text messaging via online platforms is another way couples can express their affection.
Instagram is now the official Facebook
In 2018, Instagram was more popular with adolescents and young adults than any other Social Media website in Western societies (11). Instagram is a much easier way to share information than Twitter or Facebook, which are primarily text-based. It also allows users to upload pictures, videos and GIFs. This seems to appeal to younger users more (12). The fact that grandma is unlikely to leave inappropriate comments under their posts, as she does on Facebook, or watch their Instastory can also be a factor. In turn, content relating to romantic relationships is now moved from Facebook over to Instagram. If a couple wants to be “official” on the internet, they will announce this with a picture of them together (possibly accompanied by a hashtag) rather than updating their relationship status on Facebook. They will also feature more details about their relationship on Instagram. If we are interested to know the interaction between social networking and relational factors, then it would be appropriate to focus on Instagram. Signaling theory, which is a concept from evolutionary biology that examines communication between individuals, is one tool you can use to explore these issues. According to Judith Donath (a renowned media researcher), this theoretical framework is sufficient to analyze online activity. She argues that SNS profiles and online activity in general can be defined by her as signals (15). Signaling is everywhere on Instagram, for instance: the way we introduce ourselves, what pictures we post, who we are following, etc. In addition, in relationships, the way we appear on Instagram is a sign that we are close to someone. Donath says that online communication is easily falsified, but it can also be shaped by circumstances offline. A recent study found that online behavior can vary depending on the relationship circumstances, such as a new beginning or a breakup (16).
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