Student opinion: Research on social media’s effect on relationships

Social media has greatly transformed the way we interact with each other, and the impact of social media on relationships cannot be ignored. People are more connected than they have ever been before because of the ease of online platforms, but this connection comes at a price. Social media has both positive and negative effects on our relationships with our family and friends.

Social media can be a great way to build and maintain relationships when used in the right way for the right reasons. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow users to stay in touch with friends and family who live far away and share important life events and updates, according to Medical News Today. Social media also allows us to connect with people we might not have met otherwise, helping us to make new friends who share our hobbies and passions.

 For couples in long-distance relationships, social media can help them stay connected and feel closer to each other. My husband and I had to be long-distance a few times near the start of our relationship, and it was certainly beneficial to us at the time to have access to social media to keep us connected. However, now that we are under one roof, social media can become a distraction from each other if we are not careful about the amount of time we spend on it. 

A big problem with social media is that it can create unrealistic expectations and put pressure on individuals and couples to present a perfect image of themselves or their relationships to the world. This can cause people to feel jealous and resentful or feel like they are not where they should be in life as they compare their own lifestyle to the unrealistic ones online, according to MindBodyGreen.

For example, seeing other couples getting engaged, married or having children or seeing friends traveling the world can make you feel like you are getting left behind. Such posts make it feel like it’s being rubbed in your face when people post about things you want but do not have, and comparing yourself to others online can lower your satisfaction in your own relationships, according to Choosing Therapy. 

In addition, social media can make it easier for people to show their true feelings. With the anonymity that social media provides, it’s easy for people to hide behind a screen and leave rude comments they would not say in person. According to Gabrielle Savoie, it is unwise to respond out of emotion when a post is not something you appreciate.

Social media can be a source of distraction and can take away from quality time that friends or couples spend together. A survey conducted by Relationships Australia showed that over 40% of the respondents thought social media negatively affected their close relationships due to this distraction. It’s easy to get caught up in scrolling through feeds, checking notifications and responding to messages. This can lead to disconnection and takes away from people having meaningful conversations. 

So, what can we do to lessen the negative effects of social media on our relationships? It’s important to be aware of the impact that social media can have and be mindful of using it in a way that is overall healthy and positive. This means being intentional about how we use social media, setting boundaries around our use of it and taking breaks when we need to. 

Tech Jury gathered statistics regarding social media and found on average, a single American spends around five hours on social media every day. Medical News Today released an article observing that excessive media use leads to relational conflict and decreased relational satisfaction. We need to be intentional about our use of social media for healthy relationships.

Finally, it’s important to remember that social media is not a replacement for real-life interactions and relationships. While social media can be a great way to build and maintain connections, it’s important to make time for face-to-face interactions, participate in activities that can be enjoyed together and prioritize our relationships over devices. 

Carter is an opinion writer for the Liberty Champion