On average, people used social media for 144 minutes each day in 2019. (Clement, 2020). According to the Media Dependency Theory, a person’s views and behaviors are more strongly influenced by the media the more dependent they are on it (Joko & Teng, 2017, p. 36). According to a Brigham Young University study published in 2018, excessive social media use is associated with reduced levels of emotional well-being and pleasure in interpersonal interactions (Christensen, 2018). In other words, you are not being “dramatic” if you believe that social media is having a detrimental impact on your relationship (you can read more here). It’s crucial to recognize the importance of social media in relationships rather than underestimating it.
ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Let’s start by emphasizing the advantages. According to an American Psychological Association survey, 55% of Gen Z members feel supported by social media. People may connect with relatives and friends who may be on the other side of the world thanks to social media. By connecting, you can meet others who share your interests that you might not otherwise. It can make a couple in a long-distance relationship or one where a partner travels frequently for work feel like they are still a part of the other’s daily life. Professionals in the field of mental health and relationship specialists like me have turned social media into a hub for support and education, which can encourage people and couples to seek help. He’s my soulmate quotes: Express your love with these heartwarming quotes about finding your soulmate.
IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP AT RISK FROM SOCIAL MEDIA?
When meaning and boundaries are not precisely stated and mutually agreed upon, social media might endanger your romantic relationship. Additionally, when a comparison trap is used by couples.
Meaning: There are many symbols in life, and each one has a unique meaning based on the person using it, their family of origin, and their culture. It’s crucial that you and your partner talk about what social media means to you both and what it represents. It might be easier for you to comprehend how your partner chooses to interact online if you both understand what social media means to you individually.
Boundaries: Limits have a terrible reputation. It feels like a “bad word” to many people. In actuality, limits help you to show the other person your love in a way that they can actually feel. We all live in a society that is more connected than ever, therefore digital boundaries frequently come up in my work with couples. Discuss your relationship’s use of social media and your expectations for it. Feel dissatisfied and let down if you believe that social media and real life are two separate parallel universes.
COMPARISON: Even for couples that are self-aware and express themselves plainly about their engagement on social media, this one might be the most difficult. People will go above and above to curate a flawless feed that includes the relationship’s best moments. The stunning bouquet of lush flowers, the lavish weekly dinner dates, the enticing weekend trips by the beach, the vintage bespoke ring, and the tender love poems they compose for one another out of the blue. There is nothing else. The criticism and the defensiveness are not visible. They don’t appear to be crying. You are oblivious to the difficult dialogues and the accompanying vulnerability. The backstage is hidden from view. This can only lead to ongoing disappointment because the high points of another person’s relationship will never match your own. Your fears often come to the surface when you fall into the comparison trap. When you watch couples getting engaged, moving in together, or purchasing their first house, you could start to doubt your partner’s dedication.
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