The Impact Of Digital Use On Interpersonal Relationships

Today, society is ran based of a digital age. Everything that involves simple everyday life and activities are based on media and digital uses. For instance, people keep majority of their personal life on a handheld device such as a phone or even a laptop. As little as these items may seem, they have a bigger impact on human life than people know. These devices can either create a positive or negative impact to a person’s life. Over the years, social media platforms have changed the way millions of people think about relationships. Online dating is also a form of dating introduced to many people over the years and has become increasingly popular.

The influence media has on people is so strong that others tend to overreact to certain situations. One person may be more worried about what their partner is doing on such media platforms or even become jealous based on the partners interest in content. Others may have concerns about who they are actually trying to pursue a relationship with through online dating. Sanchez, Munoz-Fernandez, and Ruiz (2017) performed a study with young adults on romantic relationship quality in the digital age. Much of this research included self- reports from the young adults based off of online intimacy, control, jealousy, intrusiveness, online dating, and communication strategies. This study included 431 students who were in current romantic relationships. According to Subrahmanyam & Smahel, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is part of everyday life for young adults and, smartphones and social media have helped young people to learn and develop.

Based on the study many people have gathered characteristics of jealousy and concern founded off the basis of what their partners content is based on. This is defined by Sanchez et al. as online jealousy and can be known as an emotional reaction based on visual depictions of online relationships. This can raise suspicions and concern of a partner’s interest in someone else. Based off of the information from this article and research study, it shows how much of an impact digital use is to society.

Tension in relationships start to arise when one person becomes obsessive over what the other person is doing, the content that they are view, or even who they communicate with. This starts to create doubts within the person and in the relationship. This answers many questions as to why media has such an impact on relationships in the digital age. It is alarming that people have changed views on the way relationships should be altered when using certain media outlets. For instance, Instagram is an app that allows people to follow, like, comment, send direct messages, and post picture and videos. Depending on the relationship one partner may want their significant others password to view the account and the content that it contains. This can create either negative online practices or positive online practices. Once this happens it cause doubt in both partners. The first partner will feel like they can’t trust the second partner and the second partner will question why the first partner has doubts about them.

Companionship is something that millions of people are in search for. As the years have passed there have been many new forms of dating that has evolved with the years. One popular form of dating can now be accessed online through internet dating websites. Online dating gives people the opportunity to alter their personalities and characteristics or be truthful about who they truly are. Users can personalize their profiles, send messages, receive messages, express interest in others, and view other users’ profiles. Cacioppo et al. (2013) stated that a third of modern marriages start online. “The internet increasingly allows Americans to meet and form relationships with perfect strangers, that is, people with whom they had no previous social tie”.

Online dating can either be a hit or miss. Some people have successful stories about their dating experiences while other have complete disasters. One can never be too sure of who they are actually talking to unless they reach out to that person to either contact them through a call of some sort such as simple phone call or even face call to put a face to the name. Online dating can be risky but there are certain measures you can take to verify who a person really is. There are obvious advantages and disadvantages while dating online. A person may want to physically touch a person or just be in their presence. Talking through a phone takes away the physical part of a relationship such going out on dates, intercourse, and physical appearance.

One really good advantage is that if the person isn’t really who they say they are you can verify that online with a series of question. If they are unable to provide you with a number or a picture that is one problem. If you receive a picture of them but they find various ways to make excuses for a face call you have an obvious answer in front of you that they may have sent a false photo.