Social media has changed the way we meet and interact with each other. It provides a platform to learn more about people you associate with.
However, social media usage has also contributed to and exacerbated problems in romantic relationships. Growing research has shown that increased usage of social media has had a negative effect on marriages and relationships. Higher levels of social media usage have led to more marital problems, infidelity, conflicts, jealousy, and eventually divorce.
Excessive time spent on social media has been shown to negatively impact romantic relationships. A recent study, published in Computers in Human Behavior , compared state-by-state divorce rates to per-capita Facebook accounts. The study found a link between social media use and decreased marriage quality in every model analyzed.
Social media provides easy access for a jealous or suspicious spouse to seek out information about the interactions of a significant other. This often leads to increased monitoring, jealousy, and conflict in a relationship. One in ten adults admits to hiding messages and posts from their significant other. Eight percent of adults in relationships admit to having secret accounts. And one in three divorces now start as online affairs. Sites like AshleyMadison. More than a third of U. Those marriages are lasting longer on average than those that begin offline.
Couples are also starting to understand the impact of social media use on relationships and work to limit time spent on Facebook and be more open in their online activities. Increased Suspicions, snooping, and jealousy Social media provides easy access for a jealous or suspicious spouse to seek out information about the interactions of a significant other.
