Social media can affect all types of relationships in both positive and negative ways. People can use social media to stay connected to long-distance friends and family members or improve communication with their partners, children, and healthcare professionals.
In contrast, social media use can lead to less quality in-person time spent with loved ones and relationship dissatisfaction. These drawbacks may be related to pre-existing relationship issues or psychological conditions.
Positive effects
- Helps boost connectivity
- Helps improve communication
- Aids relationship gratification
Negative effects
- Fuels functional impairments. Substituting social media interactions for face-to-face communication may impact not only existing relationships but also the ability to form new relationships.
- Decreases quality time and relationship satisfaction. Excessive social media use can negatively impact quality time, create conflict, and reduce relationship satisfaction—whether the relationship is romantic or not.
There is also the issue of phubbing—the act of snubbing a person in a social setting by focusing on one’s smartphone. For example, if two people sit down for a face-to-face conversation and one continues to scroll social media apps and check notifications, that person is phubbing the other.
- Provides an avenue for infidelity-related behaviors, such as communicating with alternative partners, can lead to relationship dissatisfaction, breakups, and divorce. Social media provides such an avenue for those behaviors.
How to manage social media use around relationships
Regardless of the relationship type, ideas for managing social media use around relationships include:
putting away their smartphones while spending time together
planning activities that do not leave space or time for scrolling
leaving their phones outside the bedroom
avoiding reaching out to old romantic relationships
Ways to manage social media usage during everyday life include:
moving social media apps away from the home screen or into folders
turning off social media notifications
installing internet browser extensions that limit or block social media access on computers
setting time limits for using social media apps on smartphones—for example, through iPhone’s built-in Screen Time feature or Android’s built Digital Wellbeing
committing to a social media detox
Risks and dangers of social media
Social media may bring risks unrelated to relationships. For example, social media use—including problematic social media use—may:
have associations with mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem— although some studies have limitations
spread misinformation about health issues
exacerbate existing dangerous behaviors, for example, the possible link between social media and heavy alcohol consumption
lead to less physical activity and poor sleep patterns
decrease productivity at home, school, and work
In summary, social media can have both positive and negative effects on interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. While the advantages of social media and relationships tend to occur naturally, the disadvantages seem to be associated with existing relationship problems or underlying psychological concerns.
It is important for people to manage social media usage, as too much time spent on social media can negatively impact numerous aspects of life.
Source: adapted from https://www. medicalnewstoday.com/articles/social-media-and-relationships
