Introduction
In recent decades, social media has become an integral part of modern society, revolutionizing the way individuals communicate and connect with others. This review delves into the impact of social media on various forms of human relationships with the purpose of gaining insight into how social media usage influences communication and interactions with others. It is widely acknowledged that social media can have positive effects on maintaining social relationships. When used in excess, however, social media has an overall negative impact on human interaction.
The term “social media” refers to technological platforms designed to enable people to communicate and connect with others across the globe. In the digital age, social media plays a vital role in shaping communication patterns among people and has become a new standard for interpersonal relations. Nevertheless, heavy social media use has been associated with detrimental effects on various aspects of human interaction. Areas that are significantly impacted include relationship satisfaction, friendships, emotional well-being, and familial interactions. While social media has the potential to be a beneficial innovation for immediate global communication, its current design and usage patterns pose challenges to society as a whole.
Impact on Relationship Satisfaction and Conflict
The impact of social media on relationship satisfaction and conflict is a critical aspect of understanding the effects of social media on regular social interactions. This section explores the relationship between regular social media use and relationship satisfaction, as well as the potential conflicts that may arise within relationships. By examining multiple sources, one can gain a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between social media usage and the complex dynamics at play within a relationship.
In examining the impact of social media on relationship satisfaction, a number of studies shed light on the subject. Research suggests that unhealthy usage of popular social media apps generally has negative implications for satisfaction within a relationship. A survey conducted in 2018 found that of 627 participants, 380 reported that social media negatively impacted the quality of their relationship due to its prevalence in various aspects of their lives (Christensen 2018). It was reported that because social media is an engrossing activity, it lessened the amount and quality of time spent together within relationships. This outcome effectively lowered the perceived satisfaction within that relationship. Similarly, a separate study of 143 people found that technology in general, specifically including social media, resulted in lower relationship satisfaction due to a higher prevalence of technology-related conflicts (Bouffard, Giglio, & Zheng, 2021). Both studies provide evidence that excessive social media use is associated with reduced relationship satisfaction, supporting the notion that social media can have negative effects on relationship dynamics. Both studies also emphasize that social media becomes particularly harmful when it is used in excess by one or both partners in a relationship as this directly leads to less face-to-face interaction. Therefore, both studies suggest that heavy social media use has a detrimental impact on overall relationship satisfaction.
Though heavy social media use is related to unhappiness in relationships, further findings indicate that the amount of use is just as important in determining the impact on the reported satisfaction. Social media can potentially be beneficial in relationships as long as it does not become an addiction or distraction. Partners in long-distance relationships rely on social media in order to actively maintain their relationship (Morris 2020). Social media as a technological innovation has reshaped how we are able to form bond with other people, allowing us to continue these connections even when separated for extended periods of time. Conversely, a study from 2018 reported that heavy social media use “takes over” a relationship, leading to a higher frequency of arguments, dissatisfaction, and infidelity (McDaniel 2017). Social media has the potential to be an interference in relationships if it is allowed to grow out of bounds. While one study indicated that social media is a positive force in building and strengthening relationships, especially when long-distance, it is also evident that social media can interfere with the overall satisfaction of those involved. Therefore, when used excessively, social media unintentionally becomes a large obstacle to any relationship.
While social media use has been linked to relationship conflicts and dissatisfaction, some studies offer insight into the contributing factors behind this effect. The nature of social media interactions can contribute to conflicts in a relationship by providing a platform in which an individual can stalk, monitor, or cheat on their partner. The daily updates and location-sharing aspects of social media allow a potentially abusive partner to track and monitor their significant other (Morris 2020). Social media in its present form can be weaponized as a surveillance tactic within a romantic relationship because of its emphasis on sharing personal information with others. In addition to this, a study conducted in 2021 discovered that regular users of social media were more likely to report having cheated on their partner than individuals who had rarely used social media (Bouffard et al., 2021). Social media allows somebody to communicate privately with anybody in the world, and this feature can be used maliciously to engage in emotional interactions with others outside of one’s own relationship. Though social media users are not necessarily more likely to cheat on their partner, having access to social media makes this behavior more viable. Both studies highlight the potential for conflicts to arise from excessive social media use, supporting the notion that social media interactions can contribute to relationship conflicts. Therefore, these studies suggest that the patterns and features in modern-day social media can be a direct source of conflicts within relationships.
The impact of social media on relationship satisfaction and conflict is a significant area of study. The evidence presented in these sources indicates that heavy social media use is associated with reduced relationship satisfaction and increased conflicts. Understanding the patterns in social media interactions and their consequences on relationships is crucial for developing strategies to navigate these challenges and foster healthy relationships. Social media is a technology with the potential to strengthen and empower relationships in the digital age. As with anything, however, when used in unhealthy quantities it can easily overpower the delicate dynamics necessary for a stable relationship. This leads to conflicts and problems that could otherwise have been avoided.
Influence on Friendships and Peer Interactions
The influence of social media extends beyond romantic relationships and also impacts friendships and peer interactions. Its overall effect is a significant aspect to consider when examining social media’s place in society at large. This section explores how social media use can impact the formation and maintenance of friendships, as well as the dynamics of peer interactions. By analyzing multiple sources, it is possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the role social media plays in shaping these important social relationships.
Various studies have explored the impact of social media use on the formation of friendships. Social media generally positively influences the formation, initiation, and maintenance of friendships. Lenhart et al. (2015) found that social media provides opportunities for individuals to connect with others, facilitating the formation of new friendships that has not been possible at any other point in human history. Social media is an innovative technology that allows people to communicate with others around the globe at nearly instantaneous connections. Furthermore, a source from 2013 developed a social media use integration scale, which showed that higher integration of social media into one’s life is associated with a greater number of online friendships (Jenkins-Guarnieri, Wright, & Johnson, 2013). Social media allows one person to interact and communicate with more people at once which allows that person to maintain more active friendships. The effect of social media on friendships leads to increased sense of belonging for the user. This effect also prevents friendships from diminishing due to physical separation which allows that friendship to continue and deepen. These factors are associated with feelings of social comfort in one’s life. Therefore, both studies indicate that social media is a valuable platform for connecting with others and forming new friendships.
Despite allowing an individual to initiate and maintain more relationships than they would otherwise be able to, peer interactions that exist exclusively in social media may lack in quality and overall emotional satisfaction. Excessive social media use is linked to increased conflicts in peer relationships due to the tribal nature of online interactions (Bouffard et al., 2021). Additionally, Rosen (2022) discusses how social media friendships and interactions are often superficial and inauthentic which diminishes the quality of those interactions. Due to the design of social media as a sharing platform, many users do not push their “true” selves in order to better their standing with the community. The increased amount of conflicts and lack of sincerity lead to less satisfying relationships with others, which means that though social media may increase the breadth of one’s public image, it does not encourage the development of depth in personal interactions and friendships. Therefore, these studies suggest that social media can negatively impact the quality and dynamics of peer interactions.
Examining the influence of social media on friendships and peer interactions provides valuable insights into the effects of social media on social interactions. The evidence presented in these sources suggests that social media use can influence the formation and initiation of friendships, providing opportunities for connection. However, it can also affect the value of those peer interactions, potentially leading to conflicts and negative outcomes. It may be possible to maximize the positive aspects of social media while mitigating the potential negative impacts if enough research and interest is invested into the subject, but until then social media as it is designed today does not value the significance of peer-to-peer relationships.
Effects on Social Anxiety and Loneliness
Social media plays an integral role in our interactions and connections with friends and peers, and it plays a tantamount role in our personal emotional wellbeing. Understanding the correlation between social media use and social anxiety and loneliness is a crucial area of investigation in understanding the effects of social media on human interactions. This section explores the possible negative emotional effects that social media can cause and reasons for why those effects happen. By examining multiple sources, it is possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between social media and these emotional states.
A number of studies have examined the effects of social media use on social anxiety, ultimately finding that frequent social media use has been associated with increased social anxiety. A systematic review conducted in 2021 found that heavy social media use is positively correlated with higher levels of social anxiety (O’Day & Heimberg, 2021). Individuals who reported frequent social media usage more commonly reported anxiousness alongside other related issues. To expand on that conclusion, another study of college-aged students indicated that excessive social media use decreases face-to-face interaction which is detrimental to social well-being, often leading to effects such as anxiety and depression (Kolhar, 2020). As young adults spend more of their time on social media they found that they were on average more anxious than when they devoted more attention to other pastimes. Both studies provide evidence that heavy social media use is linked to increased social anxiety, highlighting the potential negative impact of social media on an individual’s emotional well-being. Therefore, both studies suggest that there is a notable positive correlation between social media use and the perceived level of social anxiety.
In addition to being linked to higher rates of social anxiety, heavy social media usage has also been found to be correlated with feelings of loneliness. Overall, surveys and studies have indicated that higher frequencies of social media usage often lead to higher rates of loneliness for the users. A 2015 study conducted on teenagers found that teens who spent more time on social media platforms also reported higher levels of loneliness (Lenhart, Smith, Anderson, Duggan, & Perrin, 2015). People, especially teenagers who are still socially developing, require healthy human interaction in order to feel accepted in society. Social media breaks down those interactions leaving users without those necessary rewards. Research by O’day and Gross (2021), on the other hand, indicated that though there is a connection between feelings on loneliness and amount of social media use, it has been found that individuals who are lonely due to other facets in their life seek out social media for increased social support. Proving that social media is a direct cause of loneliness in individuals is difficult if there are a significant number of lonely social media users who experience loneliness from external reasons. Though there is a noticeable correlation between the two observations, loneliness is a complicated and vague experience that cannot be directly linked to social media alone.
While the connections to social anxiety and loneliness have been observed, other studies have sought to uncover what it is about social media that causes many people to experience those detrimental effects. Users of social media are prone to negative emotional issues because of exclusionary effects and the fear of missing out that social media encourages. One source explains that social media, as it is designed today, bombards its users with unattainable expectations in terms of physical appearance, social standing, wealth, and other areas (Rosen 2022). Social media is a technology for sharing oneself, and in order to increase their perceived image many users lie or exaggerate different parts of their life in order to inflate how they are received by the community. This causes users, especially those who are young or vulnerable to exaggerated and fabricated information, to feel unworthy or inferior in society (Rosen 2022). Furthermore, social media causes anxiety and loneliness in its users by provoking feelings of FOMO, or the fear of missing out, as indicated in a 2018 study among undergraduate students (Hunt, 2018). Social media confronts its users with content of other people, including peers, interacting with one another and taking part in interesting activities that the user is not a part of. This increases feelings of FOMO which leads to emotional dissatisfaction for the user. In all, these studies suggest that social media is designed in a way that encourages social anxiety and loneliness for the user.
Understanding the impact of social media on social anxiety and loneliness is crucial in comprehending the effects of social media on social interactions. The evidence presented in these sources suggests that heavy social media use is associated with increased social anxiety and feelings of loneliness. The sources used contribute to our overall understanding of the complex relationship between social media use and various emotional states. Further research and interventions may be necessary to address the potential negative consequences of excessive social media use on individuals’ emotional well-being in the digital age.
Role of Social Media in Parenting and Family Interactions
The role of social media in parenting and family interactions is another important area of study when examining the effects of social media on social interactions. This section explores how social media use influences parenting practices and family dynamics. Several sources offer insight into the role that social media plays in familial relationships.
Social media has become increasingly intertwined with parenting practices in recent decades. Parents in the present day will often limit their child’s access to social media, or they will allow their child to access it under strict supervision (Herbert & Fischer-Høyrem, 2022). Social media imposes a potential risk for young children in particular due to the presence of users with malicious intentions. Social media as it exists in the family structure has become something that parents typically monitor and restrict for their children. Furthermore, social media serves as yet another form for communication within families which in turn can enhance familial relationships (Morris 2020). Social media has the potential to provide a platform that strengthens parent-child communication in a way that is more appealing to the child. This connection allows the parent to engage with their child in a way that gives the child some level of autonomy. Both sources indicate that social media has become a significant factor in parenting, allowing parents another form to communicate with their child. Parents must be mindful, however, of the possible dangers that exist for children within social networks.
While providing potential benefits within families, social media can also make the role of parenting more difficult. In a survey from 2020, about 66% of parents in the US reported that they personally believed that parenting was more difficult in the present day than it was 20 years earlier, with 47% of those parents citing social media and related technology as the primary reason for the increased difficulty (Nadeem, 2020). Social media presents a distraction, source of misinformation, and danger for children. Understanding how to monitor and mediate access to social media is a cause for concern for many parents. Additionally, social media gives children a platform in which they can present themselves in a way that is very different from how they would behave within their family, allowing them to engage in behaviors that their parents would not otherwise approve of (Herbert & Fischer-Høyrem, 2022). This inauthenticity generates conflict within families and drives a gap between the parent and the child. For this reason social media can pose a threat to relationships within families in the digital age. Social media may potentially mislead or endanger children who are still developing mentally and emotionally, and for this reason many parents are cautious of it. All the while social media gives children access to act in ways that their parents are not aware of which may lead to emotional distance between the children and their parents. Therefore, as the sources indicate, social media is a technology that should be carefully considered before it is introduced in family dynamics.
Exploring the role of social media in parenting and family interactions sheds light on the effects of social media on social interactions within the family context. The evidence presented in these sources suggests that social media use influences parenting behaviors and strategies, presenting both opportunities and challenges for parents.
Conclusion
This review has examined the impact of social media on various different forms of human interaction. The findings from the synthesis of multiple sources highlight the complex nature of social media’s influence on social interactions and relationships. Within romantic relationships it was found that social media can play a positive role in maintaining relationships while at the same time excessive social media use can lead to relationship conflicts and dissatisfaction. The studies emphasize the need for individuals to be mindful of their social media consumption and its potential impact on their relationships. Similarly, the influence of social media on friendships is multifaceted. Excessive social media use has been linked to conflicts and shallow interactions. The technology can also facilitate immediate communication and connection with friends regardless of physical distance, however. Balancing the positive aspects with the potential pitfalls is crucial in fostering healthy and meaningful friendships. Furthermore, social media has been generally linked to emotional detriments such as social anxiety and loneliness. As with previous conclusions, it was found that heavy social media use has negative outcomes such as self-comparisons and FOMO, both of which lead to emotional issues for the user. Lastly the role of social media in families demonstrates both opportunities and challenges. Social media presents novel ways of communication and positive interaction within families. If used incorrectly, however, social media can lead to conflicts and disagreements in parent-child relationships.
Overall, in each form of interaction that was studied, it was found that though social media may initially present a positive force for the user, when used in excess it quickly becomes a danger emotionally and socially. It is important that society develops a nuanced understanding of the effects of social media on social interactions. While social media provides valuable opportunities for communication and connection, it can lead to negative consequences in relationship satisfaction, peer interactions, emotional well-being, and family dynamics. Recognizing the potential benefits and drawbacks of social media is essential for individuals, various communities, and society as a whole to navigate the digital landscape while maintaining healthy social interactions with others.
Though the effects of social media are understood by current researchers, further investigation is needed to explore strategies to promote positive social media use and to mitigate negative impacts on social relationships. It is generally understood that social media as it stands today is designed poorly for fostering positive and personal interactions with other human beings. There is still much to learn on how to better implement social media in a way that it does not detract from the intricate nuances of regular face-to-face interaction. Social media is a technological innovation that has reshaped where, how, and when we communicate with other people. It has the power to be a positive force in the future if we invest time and research into understanding how it shapes society as a whole.
Annoted Bibliography
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In this article, the authors explore the impact of excessive social media use on romantic
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relationship conflicts and addiction. The study also explored how these negative
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Furthermore, Christensen explored how social media use can have negative effects on
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social media use are associated with increased social anxiety and feelings of loneliness.
It emphasizes the importance of healthy social media habits to mitigate these negative
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answer how social media use can potentially impact interactions with others.
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psychological, and cultural aspects of social media, providing insights and analysis on
its effects and implications for individuals and communities. The findings in the book
provide quantitative evidence of how social media is being used and how that use is
affecting society.