How Social Media Affects Relationships

ONLINE ROMANCE

Online Romance •While online romance often refers to online dating there’s always two sides – the positive and the negative. •Through Twitter, Facebook and StumbleUpon we’ll share a few positive stories of proposals and people who revisited their past loves. •However, many social media sites have negative effects like jealousy and tension on relationships.

A StumbleUpon Proposal• Tyrel, 25 years old• Asked his girlfriend to marry him through StumbleUpon•Worked with StumbleUpon team to set up a special session for Marquita• She stumbled through several romantic and love related posts before seeing the picture to the left. • See her reaction!

The First Twitter Proposal•Stephanie Sullivan and Greg Rewis•“Twitter is an integral part of our long-distance relationship”•She replied:• “OMG – Ummmmm… I guess in front of the whole twitter-verse I’ll say — I’d be happy to spend the rest of my geek life with you."

Finding Love on Facebook• “A new wave of men and women are using social networking sites to find past loves in the hopes of kindling new romance”• The headline of a Time.com article states “Facebook Reunites Long-Lost Crushes”• According to ABC News, adults over age 26 are quickly outpacing Facebook’s younger members• Elise Garber and Harlan Robins reconnected over Facebook after 20 years since their first kiss at summer camp. • iStrategyLabs reports that the number of Facebook users 55 years and older grew about 500% between January and June 2009

Social Media Relationship Data• According to a Yahoo news article, Facebook’s data scientists study its users relationship status habits.

• “Friday and Saturday seem to be the top break-up days for those in the older age groups, though the under 25 group seems to like their break-ups on a Thursday.”

• Across the demographics the summer months generally are bad for relationships. The months of May through August are lower than the other months of the year for 2010 and 2011.

• February and December seem to be the best months for relationships – Valentine’s Day and Christmas.

• “December in general showed a “net gain for romance,” as 4 percent more people began new relationships than didn’t.”

Social Media and Jealousy

According to a Fox News article, mixing social media with social lives adds new strains to relationships.

“We weren’t built to think about the person we’re dating having so many other social contacts and friends that might compete with us. We like that feeling of exclusivity, that we’re the one that matters first and foremost.”

In Conclusion: Hannah and Racquel’s Opinion

• When it comes down to it, couples have to ignore the problems with social media and trust their partner. They can also trust their partner to surprise them with a social media proposal…which we think can be kind of silly! • Romance and social media should be kept separate in our

opinion. How annoying are lovey dovey couples on Facebook?!• Everyone wants romance. Everyone wants to use social media

24/7. However, remember some things should be kept private and personal.