Nearly 1 in 4 people worldwide use social media, and this number is expected to grow to 2.55 billion users by 2017. Social media allows people to connect and share their lives more than ever before. Many relationships are benefiting from social media through increased interaction and connectivity. Over 1 in 3 marriages now begin online, and 74% of couples report that the internet has had a positive impact on their relationship, with 41% feeling closer to their partner due to online conversations. Technology plays a key role in fostering connectivity, closeness, and sharing between partners in relationships today.

1. The
Posi)ve
Effects
of
Social
Media
Source:
Sharfi,
Flickr
By:
Kelsey
Bruce

2. Photo:
Steven
Guzzardi,
Flickr
Nearly
1
in
4
people
worldwide
use
social
media….
The
global
social
network
audience
is
expected
to
total
2.55
billion
by
2017
Source:
eMarketer

3. Photo:
Oscar
E,
Flickr
More
people
are
connecMng
online,
and
sharing
their
lives
now
than
ever
before…

4. Photo:
Theophilos
Papadopolous
…
And
relaMonships
are
experiencing
the
posi.ve
benefits
of
social
media
through
more
interac.on
and
connec.vity

5. Photo:
Daniel
Dudek-­‐Corrigan,
Flickr
Source:
Sharon
Jayson
One
in
three
marriages
begin
online…

6. Making
the
Internet
a
great
place
to
connect…
Photo:
Chris
Jones,
Flickr

7. Photo:
Japanexoerterna.se,
Flickr
Tech
entrepreneurs
are
shiTing
from
creaMng
online
daMng
sites,
to
creaMng
apps,
such
as
You
&
Me,
for
people
aTer
they
meet
a
mate
Source:
Jenna
Wortham

8. “I’ve
had
some
of
my
most
emoMonally
inMmate
and
honest
conversaMons
with
my
friends
and
romanMc
partners
on
mobile
devices.”
-­‐
Jenna
Wortham
Photo:
ATab
Uzzaman,
Flickr

9. Photo:
Jake
Johnson,
Flickr
74%
of
couples
report
that
the
Internet
has
had
a
posiMve
impact
on
their
relaMonship…
41%
of
couples
report
feeling
closer
to
their
partner
because
of
online
conversaMons…
Source:
Jenna
Wortham

10. Photo:
MoMqua,
Flickr
This
added
connecMvity
lets
the
individual
choose
the
amount
of
emoMonal
distance
between
themselves
and
their
partner….

11. “We
can’t
get
enough
of
one
another
if
we
can
keep
one
another
at
distances
we
can
control:
not
too
close,
not
too
far,
just
right.”
The
Goldilocks
Effect
Photo:
Theophilos
Papadopolous
Source:
Sherry
Turkle

12. “TexMng,
Facebook-­‐status
updates,
and
Twiber
conversaMons
are
not
displacing
face-­‐
to-­‐face
socializing
–
on
average
they
are
making
them
stronger.”
–Zeynep
Tufekci
Photo:
Mr.
TinDC,
Flickr

13. Social
media
is
enhancing
human
connecMvity
because
people
are
able
to
converse
in
a
new
way
–
and
therefore
stay
in
touch
beber,
and
more
frequently…
Photo:
Heather,
Flickr
Source:
Zeynep
Tufekci

14. Users
of
social
daMng
sites
such
as
Tinder,
are
looking
make
connecMons
in
the
most
efficient
way…
This
has
been
made
possible
through
social
media...
Photo:
Uditha
Wickramanayaka,
Flickr
Source:
Alan
Feuer

15. Social
scienMsts
state
that
social
media
is
incredibly
effec.ve
at
idenMfying
local
popula.ons
of
mates,
in
areas
where
tradiMonal
methods
of
introducMon
may
not
be
available
Source:
Alan
Feuer
Photo:
Daniel
GO,
Flickr

16. Technology
provides
couples
with
a
way
to
stay
connected
from
anywhere
in
the
world,
at
any
.me…..
Photo:
Tom
Heinze,
Flickr

17. The
Internet
can
help
strengthen
a
rela)onship,
as
online
interac)ons
come
with
their
own
entertaining
rapport
that
can
coexist
with
offline-­‐
counterparts.
Photo:
Marina
Carvalho,
Flickr
Source:
Jenna
Wortham

18. Technology
makes
its
way
into
a
rela)onship
–
in
how
couples
communicate,
grow
closer,
plan,
fight
and
make
up…
27%
of
online
married
adults
say
that
the
internet
has
had
a
posi)ve
impact
on
their
rela)onship
Photo:
Sheeren
M,
Flickr
Source:
PEW
Internet

19. Technology
plays
a
key
role
in
the
success
of
rela)onships
in
the
Digital
Age
as
it
fosters
connec)vity,
closeness,
and
sharing
between
partners.
Photo:
Yon
Garin,
Flickr

20. Sources:
1.
Bilton,
N.
(2014,
October
29).
Tinder,
the
Fast
Growing
DaMng
App,
Taps
an
Age-­‐
Old
Truth.
Retrieved
June
7,
2015.
2.
Chayka,
K.
(2015,
March
24).
The
New,
Improved,
Online
Friendship.
Retrieved
June
8,
2015.
3.
eMarketer.
(2013,
June
18).
Social
Networking
Reaches
Nearly
One
in
Four
Around
the
World.
Retrieved
on
June
10,
2015.
4.
Feuer,
A.
(2015,
February
14).
On
Tinder,
Taking
a
Swipe
at
Love,
or
Sex,
or
Something,
in
New
York.
Retrieved
June
8,
2015.
5. Jayson,
S.
(2013,
June
3).
Study:
More
than
a
third
of
new
marriage
start
online.
Retrieved
on
June
10,
2015.
6. PEW
Internet.
(2014,
February
24).
Couples
the
Internet,
and
Social
Media.
Retrieved
on
June
11,
2015.
7.
Pierson,
E.
(2015,
March
31).
Re:
Our
RelaMonship.
Retrieved
June
6,
2015.
8. Tufekci,
Z.
(2012,
April
25).
Social
Media’s
Small,
PosiMve
Role
in
Human
RelaMonships.
Retrieved
June
6,
2015.
9. Turkle,
S.
(2012,
April
22).
The
flight
from
conversaMon.
Retrieved
June
7th
2015.
10. Wortham,
J.
(2014,
April
5).
I
Had
a
Nice
Time
With
You
Tonight
On
the
App.
Retrieved
June
8,
2015.