This document reviews research on how extending romantic relationships to social networking sites can negatively impact relationships. It discusses how surveillance, intimacy, jealousy, and relationship turbulence on SNS may influence relationship satisfaction and increase the risk of dissolution. Surveillance among partners is common on SNS as a way to reduce uncertainty, but can also increase jealousy. Partners strive to display intimacy online in ways that match each other, but inappropriate disclosures can damage intimacy. Jealousy is correlated with SNS use and is often triggered by partners' interactions with others. Relationship turbulence may result from Facebook intrusion, discrepancies in relationship status updates, and interactions between partners and rivals online. Overall, the research suggests active SNS use by romantic partners can introduce variables
Abstract— Online Social Network such as Face book, Twitter, LinkedIn e.tc, have become the preferred interaction, entertainment and socializing facility on the internet. However With the emergence of numerous social media sites, individuals, with their limited time, often face a dilemma of choosing a few sites over others. Users prefer more engaging sites, where they can find familiar faces such as friends, relatives, or colleagues. Link predictions method help find friends using link or content information. Unfortunately, whenever users join any site, they have no friends or any content generated. In this case, sites have no chance other than recommending random influential users to individuals hoping that users by befriending them create sufficient information for link prediction techniques to recommend meaningful friends. In this paper, we discussed find friends on a new a social media site when link or content information is unavailable. The purpose of this research paper is highlighting social forces in Online Social Network using minimum information with their latest solutions by using data mining techniques are dealt in this paper elaborately.
Abstract— Online Social Network such as Face book, Twitter, LinkedIn e.tc, have become the preferred interaction, entertainment and socializing facility on the internet. However With the emergence of numerous social media sites, individuals, with their limited time, often face a dilemma of choosing a few sites over others. Users prefer more engaging sites, where they can find familiar faces such as friends, relatives, or colleagues. Link predictions method help find friends using link or content information. Unfortunately, whenever users join any site, they have no friends or any content generated. In this case, sites have no chance other than recommending random influential users to individuals hoping that users by befriending them create sufficient information for link prediction techniques to recommend meaningful friends. In this paper, we discussed find friends on a new a social media site when link or content information is unavailable. The purpose of this research paper is highlighting social forces in Online Social Network using minimum information with their latest solutions by using data mining techniques are dealt in this paper elaborately.
Privacy Perceptions and Gender Effects on Foursquare UsageJoshua M. Chang
Privacy is an increasing concern in the era of the social web. Foursquare, a social location sharing service, is a prime place for people to be “over-sharing” due to the nature of announcing their location to the community. The present study sought to further past research on foursquare check-in behavior, stranger friending and privacy, specifically between male and female genders.
Privacy Perceptions and Gender Effects on Foursquare UsageJoshua M. Chang
Privacy is an increasing concern in the era of the social web. Foursquare, a social location sharing service, is a prime place for people to be “over-sharing” due to the nature of announcing their location to the community. The present study sought to further past research on foursquare check-in behavior, stranger friending and privacy, specifically between male and female genders.
Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARRIAGES 1
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARRIAGES 2
Social media impact on psychological aspects of relationships and marriage
Abstract
This paper addresses the impact of social media on the psychological aspects of relationships and marriages. Psychological aspects of marriages and relationships that are affected by the use of social media are discussed with the aid of various articles. The articles that are used to discuss the topic have been peer-reviewed. Ten articles have been used for the discussion and the position that the authors took on the same. A comparison and contrast of the articles is given below. The strengths and the weaknesses of each article in an attempt to address the impact of the psychological aspects of relations and marriages are discussed in detail. The evidence presented in each of the articles is illustrated.
Social media impact on psychological aspects of relationships and marriage
Researchers have been making efforts to conceptualize the nature of relationship between the usage of social media and relationships especially marriages. Most of the literature points to the social media as a tool that is psychologically detrimental to the marriages. There appears to be a lack of concrete empirical research that links the two issues. Furthermore, Psychological research has not been able to establish whether social media impacts couples in relationships differently as compared to other users. This paper explores the research that has been done on the psychological effect that the use of social media has on people in relationships and marriages. The paper analyzes the findings that various researches have come up with in establishing the psychological link between use of social media and the deteriorating of relationships. It seeks to establish the link between the psychological effect of using social media to relationships and marriages.
This paper has been broken down into four sections where the first part looks into the general use of various social sites; the information that is revealed and the psychological implications that may arise from the use especially among couples. The second section analyses the research that has been done on specific media tools that is Facebook and Twitter, and the psychologically based relationships that arise. The paper then closely looks into some of the specific issues that arise with the usage of social media which are jealousy and happiness. The last section then looks into the institution of marriage, its dynamic nature and the impacts usage of social media has on married people.
It is no secret that every aspect of our lives has become more digital in nature. Most of the people in the world have various aspects of their lives shared over the internet through the various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brake (2014), makes a good analysis of the usa.
Deception at a Distance: Long-Distance Deception and Romantic RelationshipsAJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT: Research on long-distance relationships has focused on how to achieve successful long-distance
relationships (LDRs), the limitations of LDRs, and the satisfaction level in long-distance relationships. Further,
deception studies have focused on the nonverbal cues of deception and the effects of deception. However, few
studies have researched the interaction of long-distance relationships and deception behaviors in romantic
relationships. This study examined how deception comes into play in long distance relationships. There were
161 participants in this study. Specifically, we looked at how uncertainty affects deception frequency as well as
gender differences. In addition, we looked at relationship length and the amount of deception as well as the
frequency of deception. Results revealed that gender highly impacts the perception of deception.
Keywords:Deception, Frequency, Gender, Long-Distance Relationships, Romantic Relationships
2. Brandtzæg, P.B. (2012). Social networking sites: their users and social implications – a longitudinal study. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 17 (4), 467-488
Project Part 1ITT-TechShawn EngbretsonThe Effect o.docxwkyra78
Project Part 1
ITT-Tech
Shawn Engbretson
The Effect of Internet Usage on Marriage
Introduction
The rapid growth of internet usage over the last two decades has been influencing many aspects of our life and most noticeably the ways in which people communicate with each other. Therefore, it is appropriate to ask whether the growth of internet usage influences individuals’ marital decisions in modern society. This study will concentrate on the effect of the growing internet usage on marriage.
Over the last two decades, the internet has become truly widespread, and there is no doubt that this new means of communication influence and profoundly changed many substantial aspects of our lives. Email usage became standard, online dating sites multiplies, social networks’ popularity has been spectacularly growing, all giving evidence of the of the noteworthy role that online communication plays in our lives nowadays and of the very different opportunities we have now as compared to the situation some twenty years ago.
The young people are the most likely to exploit fully these opportunities, and there are several ways in which the means of online communication may make their life both easier and richer as compared to the generation of their parents. Easier from the point of view that search for a life partner does not have to be only in the real world, but might be countered on the internet. There are enough examples of happy couples that met for the first time on a social network, a discussion forum or other web platform, or who found each other directly through the services of an online dating site.
This shows just how these successfully formed partnerships have changed our lives in a way or another. The study, the effect of internet usage on marriage, would also help shed some light on the effect of the increasing internet usage on the divorce rate. There are certainly many aspects of marriage that internet usage can influence, but this study will concentrate mostly on the beginning of the marital process. It will particularly try to establish if the reduction of search costs, given by the fact that through the internet, more potential partners can be reached in a significantly shorter time, leads people to marry sooner or later.
I chose this study as way of trying to complement the already growing numbers of studies done on this topic both from a sociological an economic point of view. It will primarily be positioned within the economic stream of literature and by doing so; present an econometric approach that makes it possible to ascertain the effect of an increasing internet usage on individuals’ marital decisions. To be able to achieve this using IT as leverage to provide answers to the various questions that arise sums up all the reasons as to why I settled for this topic.
Literature Review
The propagation of the internet and the consequent enrichment of the means of communication bring one of the biggest changes ever t ...
Interpersonal Communication Chapter 7 Developing and Maintain.docxnormanibarber20063
Interpersonal Communication
Chapter 7: Developing and Maintaining Relationships
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What we will cover…
1. Types of interpersonal relationships
2. Why we form relationships
3. Managing Relationship dynamics
4. Self- Disclosure and Interpersonal Relationships
5. Stages of a Relationship
The chapters on interpersonal will be dense so make sure you ask questions?????
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Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal relationships: are the interconnections and independence between two individuals.
Interpersonal Communication: is the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between two people who have a relationship and are influenced by each other’s messages.
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Types of Interpersonal Relationships
People have webs of relationships or relational networks that connect them to others.
We will focus on the following 4:
Family
Friendship
Romantic Relationships
Online Relationships
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Family Relationships
Family- is a small social group bound by ties of blood, civil contract, and a commitment to care for and be responsible for one another.
Family relationships are the most basic relationships in our lives.
Family relationships help us develop our communication skills and characteristics that affect future interactions.
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Friendship
Friendship: is a close and caring relationship between two people perceived to be mutually satisfying and beneficial.
Friendship has many interpersonal benefits.
Important characteristics of friendship include
Availability
Caring
Honesty
Trust
Loyalty and
Empathy
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Romantic Relationships
Romantic relationships define love as deep affection for others involving emotional ties, commitment, and intimacy.
Intimacy: is defined as closeness to and understanding of a relational partner
The 6 categories of Love include:
1. Eros (Erotic and Sexual Love)
2. Ludus (Playful, Casual Love)
3. Storge (Love that lacks Passion)
4. Pragma (Committed, practical love)
5. Mania (Intense, romantic love)
6. Agape (Selfless, romantic love)
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Romantic Relationships (cont..)
Relational Harmony: has physical and psychological benefits.
Differences in notions of love vary little among cultures
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Online Relationships
Social Information Processing Theory:
Argues that communicators use unique cues in their online messages to develop realtionships that are just as close as face-to-face ones.
Hyperpersonal Communication:
Can be present in online communication. These messages are more personal than face-to-face ones.
Romance can also be maintained through the use of electronic media. Online communication allows us to maintain intimacy over distance
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Functions of Relationships
Relationships provide companionship and fulfill the need for inclusion. This need can sometimes be motivation behind the desire for a relationship.
Relationships also fulfill the needs for mental, emotional, and physical stimulation.
Some people use relationships to fulfill a practical or psychological goal.
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Interperso.
2. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 2
Abstract
This article is a review of what romantic partners experience and the ramifications that
occur when they decide to put their relationship on social networking sites by disclosing
information, feelings, pictures, having interactions with one another and others, etc.
Surveillance, intimacy, jealousy, and relationship turbulence within social networking sites are
discussed within this article as possible variables that will affect the function and outcome of the
romantic relationships. All of these variables may work together to influence relationship
dissatisfaction to the point of dissolution, thus the use of social networking sites may be
detrimental to the survival of romantic relationships.
Keywords: Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Communication Privacy Management
Theory, SNS surveillance, jealousy, relationship turbulence, intimacy
3. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 3
Introduction
It’s the moment for which you have been waiting for days, months, or even years.
Today is the day. You are ready. Wait for it… “Click.” You are officially “In a relationship;”
now you wait for comments and “likes” to occur on your Facebook status. Exposing a romantic
relationship to the internet world may look appealing and wonderful now, but in a few weeks, a
month, or a year, is it likely that you will be changing your status to “It’s complicated” or even
“Single?”
Beginning a new romantic relationship is a very exciting but delicate time. It involves
constant communication in order to maintain and grow the relationship. Just looking back 10
years from now, starting a new relationship involved communicating over the phone, and face-
to-face (FtF). However, in today’s society, people have moved a vast amount of their
communication to online platforms, or computer-mediated communication (CMC). Specifically,
social networking sites (SNS), defined as online platforms that require profiles to establish
interaction and connection, are a major resource for meeting other people, maintaining
relationships, and dissolving relationships (Utz & Beukeboom, 2011). Therefore, in a romantic
relationship, it is imperative that partners communicate and engage in activities with one another.
However, involving one another in their social networking site life may cause more harm than
good.
The importance of this article is to explain how the use of social networking sites can
be detrimental to relationships, encouraging couples to keep the majority, if not all, of the
relationship off SNS. Numerous studies have looked into the effects of couples utilizing SNS
within their romantic relationships. Researchers of these studies have examined these effects in
the context of two theories that will lay the foundation of this literature review. The theories to
4. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 4
consider are Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT), individuals use information seeking tactics in
order to reduce uncertainty about a partner, another person, or a particular relationship (Fox,
Osborn, & Warber, 2014), and the Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPMT), a
sender and receiver co-create rules of appropriateness of sharing the sender’s disclosures with
others outside of the relationship (Bazarova, 2012). The fundamentals of the URT aid in
explaining why people feel the need to disclose intimate information on SNS and monitor others’
behaviors to gain stability and security in knowledge. At the same time, CPMT contributes to
explaining that potential problems can occur if one partner or person violates the co-created rules
and discloses too much intimate information. These violations could lead to relationship
jealousy into relationship turbulence. Therefore, this literature review examines the effects of
social networking sites on romantic relationships, indicating that couples are likely to experience
relationship dissolution as a result of SNS use. Multiple variables, which include surveillance,
intimacy, jealousy, and relationship turbulence, help explain why infiltration of romantic
relationships into social networking sites may affect partners negatively.
Variables of Partner Communication
SNS Surveillance
Surveillance behaviors are common on social networking sites within romantic
relationships. SNS surveillance is defined as the act of monitoring online behaviors to
specifically gain knowledge of any infidelity of a romantic partner without his/her knowledge of
such behavior (Helsper & Whitty, 2010). Trying to find out if a partner is cheating in the
relationship has been a well-established goal throughout many generations. People have
attempted to hire private investigators, go through partner’s trash, answer a partner’s phone, and
tail a partner’s car to find out where he/she is going after work to name a few tactics. However,
5. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 5
as social networking sites have become a prominent aspect to everyday life, many couples
transfer such behavior to an online activity. In fact, people’s perceptions are more accepting
toward social networking site surveillance than traditional surveillance (reading emails, text
messages, mail, etc.) (Utz & Beukeboom, 2011). This new acceptable schema toward
surveillance enables more people to shamelessly engage in the activity as soon as a relationship
begins until it ends. For example, in the beginning stages of a romantic relationship, Couch,
Liamputtong, and Pitts (2011), looked at the importance people placed on using online
surveillance to determine the partner’s authenticity and compatibility. Surveillance is done as a
precautionary behavior that protects a person from being deceived (2011). This is a perfect
example of utilizing URT (Bazarova, 2012) as people work to decrease their uncertainty of a
potential partner’s credibility, so there can be an increase in trust between the individuals.
Although this particular motivator provokes people to seek information in new found
relationships, the need to decrease deception and maintain surveillance behaviors remain
throughout the development in relationships.
Examining couples that are in developed, romantic relationships, Darvell, Walsh, and
White (2011) used questionnaires to conclude that people’s attitudes toward surveillance
behaviors and subjective norms, or peer pressure, will directly affect their intentions of engaging
in those behaviors. In fact, there is a positive correlation between intentions and the behaviors
(2011). If people intend to participate in surveillance behaviors with a positive attitude towards
that action, they will more than likely monitor their partner’s behavior online (2011). Another
factor that could affect a person’s attitude towards online surveillance may be the amount of
dependence power a partner feels. Looking at levels of dependence power partners have within a
relationship, Samp and Palevitz (2014) discovered that there is a negative correlation between
6. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 6
the level of dependence power and engaging in monitoring behaviors. To better understand this
finding, dependence power is defined as the amount of independence and control one has over
the relationship (2014). Therefore, people who have less control over the relationship and are
more dependent on one’s partner will be more likely to engage in SNS surveillance. This way,
the partner participating in the behavior gains some control over the relationship by reducing
uncertainty and increasing knowledge of his/her partner’s feeling or behaviors that have been
disclosed on SNS.
When a couple enters into marriage, they experience a similar amount of commitment
and dependence to one another; therefore, the levels of dependence power have leveled out
between the couple. Helsper and Whitty (2010) look at how couples behave in a committed
relationship such as marriage and confirmed through online surveys that there is a high level of
surveillance use amongst married couples. Specifically, both partners were likely to engage in
the monitoring behaviors verses only one of the partners (2011). Combining results from the two
previous studies, they work together to suggest that couples, who move to a legally committed
stage, experience a decreases in dependence power which increases the need for surveillance
behaviors.
Therefore, no matter if couples begin a relationship or move the relationship to the final
stages, it is evident that individuals incorporate surveillance behaviors as a part of their
interdependent, romantic relationships. It is a main tool for reducing uncertainty between
partners. Overall, these studies suggest that people are more open, accepting, and likely to using
SNS surveillance regardless of the current romantic relationship stage.
Intimacy
7. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 7
Aside from surveillance behaviors, intimacy between partners influence the way they
interact on social networking sites. To accurately display intimacy, it is vital to understand how
couples communicate in online platforms. Intimacy is considered a certain level of closeness
between two people that possess an amount of trust to disclose information to one another
(Bazarova, 2012). While some people love to display personal information to their online
network, individuals reading that intimate material may deem it inappropriate, especially, if it is
intimate information involving that individual and his or her partner. For example, Bazarova
(2012) concluded when communicating to a partner, it is more acceptable to show intimacy and
disclose intimate information in the private messages of SNS. If disclosures are made in public
messages like wall posts and status updates, the information is viewed as less intimate than it
would have been in a private message (2012). The findings of this study imply that strategically
placing information on social networking sites is essential when in a romantic relationship.
Furthermore, disclosing intimate information for the public’s view can lessen the feeling of
intimacy and level of closeness between couples.
In order to prevent hurt feelings, couples work to create a similar SNS presence.
According to Papp, Danielewicz, & Cayemburg (2012), it is a natural desire for couples to mirror
one another’s relationship presentation and Facebook intensity, so both partners will work
toward expressing the same level of intimacy on SNS. Therefore, individuals will adjust the way
they use, emotionally connect, and involve themselves in SNS such as Facebook (2012). In
addition, partners replicate actions on Facebook to show a level of connectedness and exclusivity
(2012). This is an attempt to maintain the relationship, while avoiding any inconsistencies of
showing intimacy and commitment. In fact, partners work together to create norms as guidelines
to what is and is not acceptable behavior in SNS. Looking at particularly advanced, romantic
8. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 8
relationships, Helsper and Whitty (2010) determined that married couples co-establish what is
considered etiquette online when participating in intimate disclosures. For example, married
couples agree that cybersex, disclosing sexual fantasies which lead to sexual arousal, and falling
in love are the most unaccepted intimate behaviors that a partner could participate in online
(2011). These are just two of many behaviors such as: flirting, emotional infidelity,
pornography, etc., which partners could intimately engage in on SNS. With these findings, it is
apparent that romantic couples develop norms of online intimacy that aid in maintaining an
acceptable balance of displaying intimate disclosures from each partner.
Jealousy
When the balance of intimate disclosures goes awry, it results in jealousy. Social
networking sites have the perfect atmosphere to create jealousy within a relationship.
Specifically, SNS jealousy is a negative emotion that can damage a relationship simply by using
SNS (Utz & Beukeboom, 2011). Although many people can state that they lack jealous
tendencies or feelings, couples who expose themselves in an online public forum cannot escape
jealousy because there are many factors that can contribute to feelings of jealousy. According to
Elphinston and Noller (2011), there is a positive correlation between Facebook use and jealousy,
specifically in romantic relationships. Just by using SNS like Facebook, individuals are
witnessing the content and behaviors of other people that could provoke jealous feelings whether
the content and behaviors stem from their partners or third parties such as ex-partners or
potential partners. Either way, individuals are programed to see potential threats offline and
online. Unfortunately, hundreds if not thousands of people are present within one person’s social
network that can be perceived as potential threats in a concentrated space, a person’s SNS page.
9. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 9
Because of the overabundance of potential threats to the relationship, it is only logical
that partners feel the need to engage in monitoring behaviors whether it is small actions like
posting something small on a partner’s wall or more substantial like, updating statuses that are
full of romantic disclosures. However, trying to fulfill this need creates a cyclical event as Utz
and Beukebom (2011) uncovered, indicating that grooming and monitoring behaviors are a
major cause of jealousy. Numerous partners fall victim to this cycle due to the uncertainty
reduction theory that provides positive and negative feelings. This theory suggests that people
will seek out information to reduce uncertainty about his or her partner or another person (Fox et
al. 2014). Therefore, partners on SNS will monitor one another’s behaviors and content to
reduce uncertainty they feel within the relationship regarding fidelity. In the same token, couples
who reduce their uncertainty and find some type of infidelity or perhaps a threatening third party
can experience jealousy that results into relationship dissatisfaction. Specifically, jealousy that
was cultivated on Facebook stemmed from individuals uncovering their partner’s new attractive
friends, flirtatious comments, comments from outside friends, and photos of the partner and
another person (2014). As participants in this study noted that these findings were judged as
unacceptable in the romantic relationship, Fox et al. (2014) indicated that jealousy has a
substantial influence on relational struggles. Examining the work of Utz and Beukebom (2011),
Elphinston and Noller (2011), and Fox et al. (2014), it is evident that people in romantic
relationships who actively use Facebook are prone to experience jealousy.
Relationship Turbulence
As jealousy festers in a relationship, it is evident that relational turbulence follows shortly
after. Due to the use of social networking sites, partners are prone to experience relationship
turbulence. There is something addictive about SNS that people can become attached to the sites
10. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 10
to the point of causing negative repercussions. Elphinston & Noller (2011) have found within
their research via online questionnaires to university students that there is a positive correlation
between Facebook intrusion and relationship dissatisfaction. Facebook intrusion is defined as a
certain level of dependency on Facebook that affects and disrupts daily functioning within a
relationship; therefore, being dependent on a SNS, like Facebook, can create difficulties in
maintaining a relationship (2011).
When couples decide to pursue a relationship and work to maintain it, there are certain
turning points, or milestones throughout that are shared between the couple. SNS, specifically
Facebook, has catered to people who want to disclose milestones by offering timelines, events,
and status updates. For individuals in romantic relationships, Facebook has provided options to
describe relationship status which include: single, in a relationship, it’s complicated, engaged,
and married. Choosing an option to reveal the romantic status to one’s social network for all to
see in known as going “Facebook official” (Fox et al. 2014). However, Facebook statuses can
cause relational conflict (Papp et al. 2012) specifically when there is a lack of congruence
towards partners becoming “Facebook official” and changing the relationship status (Fox et al.
2014). In our SNS dependent society today, changing a relationship status is a monumental step
in a relationship, and partners as well as social networks will measure the relationships
seriousness, commitment, and stability. Unfortunately, this study showed when only one of the
partners in the relationship made it “Facebook official,” it would cause instability and
uncertainty, thus revisiting and completing the cyclical event. Therefore, couples who are
divided on the subject of making their relationship Facebook official could provoke monitoring
behaviors, jealousy, and ultimately increase relational turbulence exponentially.
11. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 11
There is a definite presence of relational turbulence that can arise solely from behaviors
that occur between partners on SNS. However, a new dimension occurs as a third party begins
to interact with one or both partners. When an individual views conversations between a rival
and romantic partner, one is more likely to experience negative emotions toward the relationship
if a rival has an attractive profile picture, uses emoticons or nonverbal cues such as “liking”
photos, statuses, wall posts, etc. (Fleuriet, Cole, & Guerrero, 2014). Rivals are not as threatening
if they communicate in text-based only; in contrast, rivals who use wink-face emoticons are
perceived as especially threatening to a romantic partner (2014). Therefore, viewing
communication between a rival and romantic partner causes negative emotions between the
couple which propels them toward relational turbulence and relationship dissatisfaction. In
general, all of these studies suggest that relationship turbulence is a likely occurrence when
romantic partners are active on social networking sites.
Research Question and Hypothesis
As couples experience relationship turbulence due to online activity, partners must
determine the next step to solve the conflict or tension. It is evident that SNS is a factor to
consider when involved in a romantic relationship because it will have an impact on the
relationship functions. Encapsulating all of the articles discussed in this paper, findings suggest
that when romantic partners are active on social networking sites, the increased desire to utilize
surveillance behaviors (Couch et al. 2011) and violations of established etiquette of disclosing
intimate information (Helsper & Whitty, 2010) provoke jealousy that result into conflict and
relational turbulence (Fox et al. 2014); however, no studies examine long-term effects or
outcomes of these variables on romantic relationships. Viewing these studies, there appears to be
12. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 12
a cyclical event that happens when couples put their relationship on SNS which leads me to
propose a research question and hypothesis for future researchers to consider:
RQ1: As romantic couples use online social networking sites, is there a positive
correlation between increased monitoring behaviors and the probability of dissolution?
H1: Couples who use social networking sites are more likely to dissolve the relationship
than those who do not use social networking sites.
Limitations and Future Research
Although these studies provide stimulating results, there are some limitations to consider.
Firstly, the majority of the studies were unable to get an accurate representative sample of
participants. The majority of researchers recruited young, female, college students. However,
people from all stages of life, both sexes, and all ages are avid SNS users, especially considering
Facebook. Furthermore, Fleureit et al. (2014) and Bazarova (2012) required participants to look
at hypothetical scenarios rather than participating in real-life scenarios. Participants gave
emotional responses to questionnaires and interviewers regarding hypothetical situations which
could be drastically different when they experience it in real life, thus results could be skewed.
And finally, Darvell et al. (2011) and Helsper and Whitty (2010) failed to define or clarify
certain concepts to participants which left those concepts for individual interpretation making
results unclear and possibly inaccurate. Overall, future research should be sure to clearly define
all concepts for participants, choose a better representative sample including older people of all
ages and ethnicities, and finally, conducting real life scenarios for participants to explore.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SNS inevitably affects the way romantic partners communicate and
maintain the relationship. Moreover, incorporating communication via SNS is more costly to the
13. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 13
relationship eventually leading to dissolution rather than improving closeness and stability. This
research paper examined variables of surveillance behaviors, intimate disclosures, jealousy, and
relationship turbulence that could increase the probability of relationship dissolution. All of
these variables contribute gain better understanding of how social networking sites can influence
romantic relationships in a negative manner. With the understanding of how social media can
take a toll on relationships, couples should caution each other to never be friends, followers or
endorsers online, so that they have more of a chance to grow as romantic partners.
14. EFFECTS OF EXTENDINGROMANTICRELATIONSHIPSTOSNS 14
References
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Couch, D., Liamputtong, P., & Pitts, M. (2011). Online daters and the use of technology for
surveillance and risk management. International Journal of Emerging Technologies &
Society, 9(2), 116-134.
Darvell, M. J., Walsh, S. P., & White, K. M. (2011). Facebook tells me so: Applying the theory
of planned behavior to understand partner-monitoring behavior on Facebook.
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doi:10.1089/cyber.2011.0035
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014-0189-x
Fox, J., Osborn, J. L., & Warber, K. M. (2014). Relational dialectics and social networking sites:
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