The following are some negative ways in which social media can impact relationships.
1. Fuels functional impairmentsSubstituting social media interactions for face-to-face communication may impact not only existing relationships but also the ability to form new relationships.
For example, while some researchers note the necessity for more research on social anxiety and social media use, it is possible for people with social anxiety to experience continued functional impairments — e.g., being uncomfortable or unable to form and engage in face-to-face relationships — when they replace in-person interactions with social media use.
Furthermore, failing to make or maintain in-person relationships may also appear as a consequence of social media use.
During a 2021 study at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, researchers found that more than half (59%) of the 300 participants reported that prolonged use of social media had impacted their social interactions, negatively affecting family relationships and friendships while also making face-to-face communication more difficult. However, the study consisted only of students who identified as female, ages 17–29 years, so more research is necessary.
»Learn more about social anxiety disorder2. Decreases quality time and relationship satisfactionExcessive social media use can negatively impact quality time, create conflict, and reduce relationship satisfaction, whether the relationship is romantic or not.
During a 2021 study, researchers used Instagram and the app’s time-tracking capability to learn more about the connection between social media and relationship satisfaction.
They found that an increase in Instagram usage led to a decrease in relationship satisfaction and an increase in conflict and negative outcomes. Furthermore, the dissatisfaction, conflict, and negative outcomes triggered an addictive use of Instagram.
On the flipside, making daily sacrifices for the relationship partner had a positive effect on relationship satisfaction and decreased the likelihood of conflict and negative outcomes.
However, there is also the issue of “phubbing” — the act of snubbing a person in a social setting by focusing on one’s smartphone. For example, if two people sit down for a face-to-face conversation and one continues to scroll social media apps and check notifications, that person is phubbing the other.
Numerous studies and research materials show that many people feel phubbing is rude and goes against social norms. Phubbees, or people who he experienced phubbing, report a reduced sense of emotional connection, empathetic concern, and interpersonal trust.
Additionally, phubbing may lead to heightened jealousy between romantic partners, weaken their bond, and lower their satisfaction with the relationship.
3. Provides an enue for infidelity-related behiors“Infidelity-related behiors,” such as communicating with alternative partners, can lead to relationship dissatisfaction, breakups, and divorce. Social media provides such an enue for those behiors.
While there is not much empirical evidence regarding social media infidelity-related behiors (SMIRB) and marital relationships, there is growing research on the topic.