LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Social media has become a vital part of teenage culture with popular apps like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat being used by teenagers daily. But how do these apps influence the way that teens view their romantic relationships in real life? Being able to highlight the best parts of your life on social media can allow friends to stay connected, but it can also cause deeper issues in relationships, like jealousy and miscommunication.
Social media has the potential to strengthen one’s relationship. Couples can easily communicate with each other and share their affection publicly. Additionally, influencers sharing bits of their own relationship can demonstrate what a healthy relationship looks like and educate others on ways to communicate with their partner. Long-distance relationships also benefit from social media because they can keep up with their partners’ lives through online communication and posts.
“Increased accessibility allows teens to be ‘available’ for their partners more often,” said Sarah Flicker, PhD, a professor and research chair at York University, in an article with Children and Screens.
Although social media can be used to strengthen relationships, it can create hardships. Jealousy is the most common type of issue young couples face, as a partner may like someone’s post, which creates insecurity for that partner of the person interacting with the post. Additionally, posting or reposting relatable or funny content can be taken out of context, leading to miscommunication online. Teens may also compare their relationship to those they see online, which not only creates tension but also fuels the desire to be a “perfect” couple.
“Social media can be a made-up version of what a relationship actually is like. This makes teenagers insecure in their own relationships since no relationship is perfect,” said Petra Mao, a Los Alamitos High School senior.
Emotional highs and lows in teenage relationships can escalate through social media. Anxiety can increase when waiting for replies or through public arguments that are posted. If a couple breaks up, it can be hard for both people since the relationship was publicly posted and memories remain online. Peers who notice a breakup may ask about it or spread false rumors, which ultimately causes a negative headspace for both people who were in the relationship.
Before posting about relationships online, young couples need to discuss their boundaries, communicate instead of assuming feelings based on online actions and take breaks from social media when needed. Social media can be used by couples to build a healthy relationship and strengthen each other’s trust.
This article was originally published in the Griffin Gazette: Insight magazine in a condensed version. You can read the magazine version here.
