Virtual Relationships in Social Media

• Self-Disclosure in Virtual Relationships (1)

  Jourard proposed the concept of 'broadcasting self-disclosure' to explain the difference between disclosure to a romantic partner and the sharing of personal information in a public situation. Claiming that in the public domain individuals present an 'edited' version of themselves. Claiming that on social media people can exercise differing levels of disclosure depending on whether the information is presented publicly or privately. People feel more secure disclosing intimate and sensitive information privately due to their increased control.
• Self-Disclosure in Virtual Relationships (2)

  When disclosing in more visible ways with a wider audience (e.g. a public profile), people are more selective over content and reveal information which is less private and less intimate. People compensate for a lack of control over their target audience by exercising increased control over what the audience has access to.
• Why do people disclose more on the Internet?

  Due to the psychological effects of anonymity. Individuals don't usually engage in self-disclosure with another person until they are confident that what they disclose will remain confidential. The dangers of self-disclosure in face-to-face interactions is that confidentiality may be violated, or the person responds negatively through ridicule or rejection. The relative anonymity of internet interactions reduces the risks as people can share their inner thoughts with much less fear of disapproval and sanctions- like 'strangers on a train'.
• 'Strangers on a Train' Phenomenon

  Internet interactions may be seen as analogous to encounters with strangers whilst travelling. In the 1970s, Rubin completed studies where confederates disclosed personal information about themselves (varying in the level of intimacy) to complete strangers on a train/bus stop. Discovering that when confederates disclosed, it was often met with a reciprocal self-disclosure from the stranger. This is because the stranger doesn't have access to the individual's social circle, so confidentiality is less of an issue.
• Absence of Gating in Virtual Relationships

  In face-to-face interactions, personal factors such as physical appearance and mannerisms determine who we approach. We use available features like attractiveness, age, or ethnicity to categorise potential partners before deciding whether we would want a relationship with them. Online, there is an absence of barriers or 'gates' which normally limit opportunities for less attractive, shy, or less socially skilled to form relationships in face-to-face encounters.
• Absence of Gating and its Consequences

  Due to the relative anonymity, barriers are less likely to prevent a relationship from forming. A consequence of removing the filters which dominate initial liking means that a person's true self is more likely to be active. This then contributes to the establishment of close relationships over the internet. Zhao et al found social networks can empower 'gated' individuals to present the identities they hope to establish, enabling them to 'stretch the truth' to make them appear more desirable.
• Absence of Gating and its Consequences

  Yurchisin et al interviewed 11 online daters, finding that they gave accounts of their real and better selves in order to attract potential partners. Some admitted that they would steal other people's ideas or copy their images to make themselves appear more popular. Though it was found that most people kept their online identities close to their true identity to avoid unpleasant responses in a possible real-life encounter.
• AO3: The Importance of the Internet for Romantic Relationships

  Rosenfeld and Thomas did a study of 4,000 US adults, finding that those with internet access were more likely to be partnered, and less likely to be single. 71.8% who had internet access had a spouse or romantic partner. Individuals without internet access were 35.9%. Even after controlling variables such as age, gender, education, sexual preference, and religion- those with internet access were twice as likely. Suggesting the internet may be displacing the ways people meet their partners.
• AO3: Virtual Relationships can be as Strong as Offline Relationships

  Putman argues that the nature of online relationships only enables superficial relationships which cannot compare to the richness of face-to-face relationships. They are seen as lower quality and more temporary. However, Rosenfeld and Thomas found no evidence to support the claim- in their research they found no difference in quality, and didn't find that online relationships were more fragile/temporary.
• AO3: A Biological Basis for Self-Disclosure on Facebook

  Tamir and Mitchell found evidence of a biological basis for the motivation to disclose on social media. Finding an increasing MRI activity in the two brain regions associated with reward, the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area. They were strongly activated when people were talking about themselves, and less so when people were talking about others. They found people has higher levels of pleasure when they were able to disclose- showing humans tendency to self-disclose on social media may arise from its rewarding nature.
• AO3: Facebook helps shy people have better quality friendships

  Baker and Oswald argue that virtual relationships are particularly helpful for shy people. They are able to overcome the barriers they face in real-life. They surveyed 207 male and female students about their shyness, Facebook usage, and quality of their friendships. Students who scored high on shyness were associated with higher friendship quality and greater Facebook usage. Less shy people didn't have an association with Facebook usage and friendship quality. Showing the value virtual relationships have for shy people.
• AO3: Virtual Relationships have consequences for Offline Relationships

  Zhao et al claims we shouldn't view the online and offline worlds as separate. This is because relationships formed online have consequences for their offline lives. E.g. the development of virtual relationships has allowed individuals to bypass gating obstacles and create an identity that cannot establish in the offline world. Arguing that these 'digital selves' can enhance the individuals overall self-image and can then increase their chances of connecting with other people in the offline world.
• IDA: Culture Bias

  Research is based on the experiences of Western technology, in other countries technology isn't as readily available- reducing the application. Nakanishi found that, in contrast to American culture, women in Japan prefer lower levels of self-disclosure. This demonstrates the preferred level of self-disclosure depends on cultural norms, and this may affect communication styles. Lowering the validity of the explanation.
• IDA: Gender Bias

  McKenna et al found that women tended to rate their online relationships as more intimate, and values self-disclosure in regards to emotion more than men. Men preferred activity-based disclosure, rating their online relationships as less close. Suggesting that this explanation is beta biased as it assumes that both men and women respond in the same ways to disclosure and the absence of gating.