Social media is one of the most recognized social networking in the world. Social media does not only act as a form of conveying information but also aids in career development. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have developed to have millions of users. Currently, an individual is expected to be using either one or more of these social networks. Social media has been argued to have impacts on relationships; thus, this paper will discuss both the positive and negative impacts of social media on relationships.
Positive impacts of social media on relationships
Helps in spreading awareness. It is through social media that most people get informed about a certain happening such as the death of a friend or a family member, an upcoming occasion like wedding or anniversary, an incidence such as heavy downpour whereby they can be able to avoid such places. With this information family and friends can meet in those functions as well as they will be able to contribute in instances where financial need is required, hence keeping family, and friends together.
Helps in maintaining ties. The industrial age has forced individuals to seek employment in different parts of the world as well as the desire for quality education has made people to look for quality education abroad causing separation from the loved ones. Letters and phones calls are problematic since they are expensive and take a longer time to reach the intended party; thus, social media turns outs to be the best form of communication. Therefore, through social media, families, friends and lovers can interact via platforms such as Facebook where they can video call and share pictures thereby enhancing bonding (Hand, Matthew et al 9).
Creates and sustains romantic relationships. In many instances, social media is used as a ‘hook up’ site. Hand, Matthew et al (10) argues that 4% of the married people are said to have met in social media. Moreover, social media nourishes romantic relationships through the communication whereby the lovers can express their feelings in various ways including chatting and video calling. In addition, social media nourishes romantic relationships by allowing the lovers to publicize their status to show commitment (Hand, Matthew et al 10). For example, Facebook offers a place where one can update status such as engaged or married, thus, enhancing trust among partners.
Negative impacts of social media on relationships
Increases insecurities and jealousy among loved ones. Social media in many instances have been linked to the increased jealousy and insecurities among sibling, friends and partners. The notion of parents, friends and your partner of not liking or commenting on a picture uploaded or status updated tends to raise jealousy especially in cases where friend, or parents ,or partner have been commenting and liking pictures uploaded by mutual friends and siblings within the same group. Also, insecurities and jealousy can arise when the other partner uploads a picture with opposite sex or when a parent uploads a picture and one is left out, resulting to conflicts and breakup since most of the time one will be focusing on what they don’t have rather than what they have (Utz et al 511-527).
Conclusion
Social media plays a vital role not only in enhancing relationships between families and friends but also among lovers. Despite the positive impacts of social media such as maintaining ties among families, friends and lovers, the negative impacts such as it create insecurities and jealousy among friends, families and lovers cannot be left out. Therefore, much needs to be focused on the various approaches to reduce the negative impacts so as to avoid the damages social media is causing to families, friends and romantic relationships.
The thesis statement
Social media has both positive and negative impacts on relationships. The capacity to be advantageous relies on the nature of contents shared and how it is used.
Work cited
Hand, Matthew M., et al. "Facebook and romantic relationships: Intimacy and couple satisfaction associated with online social network use." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 16.1 (2013): 8-13.
Utz, Sonja, and Camiel J. Beukeboom. "The role of social network sites in romantic relationships: Effects on jealousy and relationship happiness." Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication 16.4 (2011): 511-527.
