Social media sites are two-edged swords when it comes to relationships. It can both be a bane or a boon, depending on how to use it. But for the most part, these internet platforms have brought so much good – from keeping families connected, bridging the distance between romantic relationships, and more. With that, many are asking this question: how does social media affect relationships positively?.
The answer to this isn’t really that hard. For someone who’s been using social media to maintain relationships, the benefits are undeniable.
So for this post, I will share my experiences on the positive role of social media in relationships and how you can boost it further. And to balance this take, I will also include the negative side, so you can avoid it.
How does social media affect relationships positively?
For the past years, social media have seen a massive boom. Relationships have transitioned from snail mail letters to real-time digital chats or videos on TikTok. There’s no denying that social media have made maintaining relationships easier and resolving conflicts much faster.
If you’re wondering how social media affect relationships positively, here are some of the amazing ways:
1. It bridges physical distances.
The biggest positive effect social media has on relationships is it bridges physical distances. From families living apart to couples in long-distance relationships, social media provided a convenient platform for people to stay connected.
So even if they are thousands of miles away, one video call on social media is enough to ease the longing. It’s no longer just text messages or voice calls – all thanks to the advancement of technology.
With this, social media becomes a virtual meeting place for families, friends, couples, co-workers, and more to stay connected wherever they are.
2. It reduces the risk of estrangement.
Social media also helps reduce the risk of estrangement among broken families. For example, divorced parents can still contact their children through social media. With this, they can keep their relationship with their kids even if they aren’t meeting in person all the time.
Moreover, social media become a neutral ground for divorced or separated parents to meet their children. It’s also beneficial for the children who are longing for their parents. With just one call or chat away, they can be reconnected instantly.
3. It allows users to store memories.
Social media platforms are like digital time capsules. It allows users to create albums, posts, and other compilations to store memories. For example, Facebook has the “Memories” feature that reminds the person of their social media activities in the past years.
This is very instrumental in remembering special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and more. It’s also a good way to honor the good things that happened within relationships.
Also, the good thing with social media is it allows shared access across users. This is another way to keep people in relationships connected. And for some couples, expressing their love on social media is a helpful way in strengthening their bond.
4. It provides a snapshot of the user’s personality.
The social media feed of a person is somewhat a reflection of his or her personality. This gives other people an idea of what he or she likes and dislikes. It also reveals a lot about that person’s hobbies, opinions, and character.
With this, other users will have an idea of how to approach the relationship with a person. From knowing what gift that person will like or the type of person that user prefers. These small details create a big impact when establishing or maintaining relationships through social media.
5. It allows single persons to meet.
Are you single and looking for a special someone? If so, social media will be the perfect avenue to start mingling. This is where social media platforms are extremely beneficial, especially for those who aren’t comfortable with traditional blind dates and meet-ups.
Social media has been very effective in bringing people together that in 2017, a survey found that about 39% of heterosexual couples met their partners online.
Aside from that, social media removes or limits the role of friends and family members have in meeting potential partners. This is beneficial for those whose circles’ suggestions aren’t compatible with what the person prefers.
Moreover, a Tinder survey in 2019 showed that social media and online dating are beneficial for the LGBTQIA+ community. Aside from meeting potential lovers, members of the community also said that the dating app helped them in the process of coming out.
6. It connects you to relationship experts.
Social media also help you connect to relationship experts like counselors, therapists, and so on. This is beneficial for families, friends, and couples who are working on their relationships.
And even if you’re not actively seeking these services, social media posts about relationships and mental health can be a big help
7. It helps with sexual gratification.
In 2019, a study from Cambridge University showed that pornography content on various social media platforms aids a person’s sexual gratification. This applies to couples in romantic relationships.
However, the study also notes that this benefit depends on the person’s sexual confidence and level of compulsivity. But for what it’s worth, this avenue is available for people who are willing to explore it.
The negative aspect of social media in relationships
As much as social media brings a lot of benefits, it’s also important to recognize that it has some ugly parts. In real life, relationships get ruined because of unhealthy social media use.
Here’s how uncontrolled consumption and use of social media can negatively affect relationships:
1. It can cause unhealthy comparisons.
One of the dangers of social media is creating unhealthy comparisons in relationships. It then creates unrealistic expectations between partners, families, and friends.
The thing with social media is that most posts are curated to highlight only the best aspects of someone’s life. It’s not a real reflection of what the relationship is in reality.
In an effort to measure up, these too-good-to-be-true alternate reality often creates a strain between relationships. And since real-life relationships aren’t always a bed of roses, failure to match what they see on social media can lead to disappointment and reduced interest in the relationship.
2. It can lead to infidelity.
If there’s a big problem in social media among couples, it would be infidelity. Social media connects users easily and it allows anyone to meet new people, even those who are already in a relationship.
Many are guilty of keeping “social media affairs” and secretly cheating on their partners. Others engage in infidelity-related behaviors even if they aren’t getting into an actual relationship with another person.
In the long run, social media can create conflict within relationships. Some cases even end in breakups or divorce.
3. It can become an addiction.
Excessive use of social media can cause addiction. When this happens, the relationship may become centered on likes, comments, and shares.
Aside from that, social media addiction can get in the way of communication between people. This can become a big problem in families, friendships, and romantic relationships. Even young individuals who got addicted to social media will experience problems in their relationships with other people.
4. It can trigger jealousy and dissatisfaction.
Social media can also create insecure attachments in relationships. When this happens, jealousy and insecurity will set in. This can lead to recurring fights among couples, friends, and family members. It will be an endless cycle unless the people involved are willing to reassess their social media use.
For example, a person may get jealous when their partner likes or views a post of someone else. If this repeatedly happens, social media will then increase feelings of suspicion and distrust among couples.
5. It can take away quality time.
Lastly, the use of social media can take away quality time among people in relationships. The instant dopamine rush social media brings easily hooks anyone. And instead of spending time with their loved ones, a person may prefer endlessly scrolling into his or her social media rabbit hole.
In the end, partners may end up glued to their phones instead of talking to each other. While the effects aren’t easily felt, they will slowly take their toll on the relationship.
How to make social media work for your relationship
Overall, social media isn’t pure evil. If used properly, the benefits outweigh the downsides.
To ensure that social media will not ruin your relationships, here are some steps you should take:
- Set time limits. One thing you should learn is how to set time limits on your social media use. This way, you can still focus on improving relationships without seeking the social validation you often get online.
- Have a social media detox. From time to time, take a social media detox by logging off and uninstalling all your social media apps. This will keep you in check of your motivation as to why you’re using such platforms. Also, it will prevent you from being addicted to social media.
- Turn off notifications. It’s best to turn off the notifications of your social media apps, so you won’t be tempted to check them all the time. You should only set a specific time of the day when you’ll spend time checking your accounts.
- Select what’s on your feed. It’s important to curate the pages you like or join. This way, you can limit the content that could potentially cause a strain on your relationships.
- Discuss it with your partner. It’s important to discuss social media use with your partner to avoid conflicts. Couples should establish healthy boundaries about what they can or can’t do online.
- Take social media lightly. Keep this in mind: not everything you see on social media is true. This is why you should never use it as a basis for your relationships. What you need to focus on are real-life experiences and actual people.
Final words
How does social media affect relationships positively?. These platforms provide convenient means of communication, meeting new people, and maintaining relationships.
However, it’s also important to understand that social media has its downsides as well. Users should always be cautious so these platforms won’t become the source of conflicts between their friends, family members, or partners.!.