A recent article examined why people connect online with people they dislike. Social media offers features that allows users to solicit and establish a friendship with barely acquainted individuals. This allows users to gain information about their superficial connections with whom they may not otherwise connect offline. Results from a study comprised of college students (N = 305) indicated that…
The Negative Effects of Social Media Use On Our Physical Health
September 9, 2022
In many people, the mere thought of having no access to social media will induce goose bumps. Social media is integrated into our daily lives such that the “fear of missing out” on social media information may have caused us to be hyper-connected. The constant need of…
Maintaining virtual relationships is time-consuming. Time spent online cannot be reclaimed later to be spent with family. Extant research suggests that social media may be jeopardizing the primary romantic relationship. Individuals, irrespective of gender, consider some of…
Social Media Addiction Predicts Social Media Infidelity in Dating Partners: Could Age Explain This Connection?
January 24, 2022
Habitual social media interactions could develop into a compulsive behavioral pattern that could interfere with relationship functioning. Empirical research has consistently found a negative relationship between social media addiction and age. My research has also confirmed that, in a sample of adult partners (18 and above) who self-reported to be in a committed relationship, younger partners…
Over-engagement with social media can potentially turn into social media addiction exhibiting symptoms of substance abuse such as deficient self-regulation, neglect of personal life, cognitive preoccupation, mood modifying experiences, tolerance, concealment of addictive…
Social Media Addiction in Committed Relationships: What Factors Make Partners More Susceptible to Social Media Addiction?
January 9, 2022
What Factors Make Our Romantic Relationship Vulnerable? Excessive social media use adversely affects romantic relationships due to jealousy, envy, suspicion, surveillance, and infidelity. Social media use is linked with low relationship commitment due to the presence of…
Social media interactions between romantic partners (e.g., liking, commenting on partner’s posts and pictures) may not benefit the couple, rather it can jeopardize their relationship. Empirical evidence suggests that couples who reported more Facebook maintenance behaviors experienced lower levels of love in their relationship (Northrup & Smith, 2016). That is, spending excessive time on…