Romanticizing other people’s relationships is not a new concept (thanks, rom-coms).
Unlike a movie script, though,social mediashows real couples living real lives.
But can looking at these seemingly perfect couples online interfere with our own romantic relationships?
Here, how social media can affect your relationships and more.
Social media, if used sparingly, is not necessarily bad for relationships.
Research has shown social media use canboth positively and negatively affect relationships, depending on how it’s used.
Social media use has also been linked topoor body imageand depression, which can negatively affect relationships.
Attempting to measure up can distract you and your partner from the relationship.
The desire to find more information about them can perpetuate further social media use and feelings of mistrust.
Next time you and your partner are together and both focused on your phones, bring awareness to that.
“Practice valuing real-time connection over internet connection,” he says.
This can help increase emotional intimacy.
On the flip side, lowering social media use has been shown toreduce loneliness and depression symptoms.
Though these issues are more individualistic than relational, they can bleed into romantic relationships.
When apartner is suffering from mental health issues, they may beclosed off to intimacyorbecome codependent.
Several studies have linkedsocial media use and body image issues9.
A person’s body image issues can significantly affect their relationships.
It can make us more narcissistic
Excessivesocial media use is linked to narcissistic traits12in some cases.
And different types of social media play into different aspects of narcissism.
And of course, being in arelationship with a narcissist is not healthyand can lead to trauma later on.
According toone survey, online dating can be especiallyhelpful for the LGBTQ+ community.
This is particularly helpful for couples who don’t live together and people inlong-distance relationships.
Unlike a physical photo album, social media has the added component of followers.
Scrolling through social media all day is, unfortunately, not a hard habit to pick up.
On top of that, the act of being on your phone constantly can distract fromintimacywith a partner.
