virtual relationships in social media

• virtual relationships

  • Definition - any relationship that is conducted through the internet rather than face-to-face, for example through social media
  • Virtual relationships have become more and more popular over the past few years.
  • Rosenfeld and Thomas (2019) found that in 2017 39% of heterosexual couples (and higher proportions of same sex-couples) reported meeting their partner online.
  • As such, there is a lot of interest in comparing how people conduct these relationships in comparison with face-to-face relationships.
  • One such comparison is the level of self-disclosure.
• greater self disclosure on the internet

  • Research has suggested that people tend to disclose more personal information in a virtual relationship
  • This can be put down to one of two factors:
  • Control - When not in a face-to-face situation, people are more able to control what is disclosed, e.g. they have more time to think of what and (sometimes) control over who sees it.
  • Anonymity - The anonymity of the internet reduces the risks associated with disclosure of personal information, meaning the individual is less likely to be judged for their comments
• self disclosure theories

  1. reduced cues theory - less SD. sproull + keisser suggest VR is less effective due to lack of non verbal cues eg, looks, responses

  • lack of cues on emotional state = de-individuation
  • people feel freer from constraints of social norms (disinhibition) = blunt aggressive communication and reluctance SD

  1. hypersonal model (walther 1996, 2011) suggest since SD is quick, relationship develop quickly
• absence of gating in virtual relationships

  • Gates are barriers that limit opportunities for the less attractive, shy or less socially skilled to form relationships in face-to-face encounters.
  • In a face-to-face situation, factors such as physical appearance and mannerisms influence who we would approach.
  • We use available features such as attractiveness, age or ethnicity to categorise potential partners before making the decision about whether or not we would like to start a relationship with them
  • Due to the relative anonymity online, there aren't the same barriers to approach someone as there would be face-to-face.
  • It has been claimed that this leads to dangers, as it is easier for people to create false personas online.
• gating continued

  • HOWEVER, others have argued that once gates are removed, a person's true self is more likely to be shown.
  • Zhao et al. (2008) claim that relationships formed online have positive consequences for people's offline lives
  • Developing virtual relationships online allows some individuals to bypass gating obstacles and create the sort of identity that they would be unable to create in their offline world.
  • This suggests that an absence of gating online increases chances to connect to others in the offline, as well as the online, world.
• eval: supporting research

  • Research support for the importance of virtual relationships in the modern world
  • Rosenfeld and Thomas (2012) examined 4000 US adults and found that individuals with internet access at home were more likely to be in a relationship.
  • Of these 4000 individuals, 71.8% of those who had internet access had a spouse or romantic partner, compared to 35.9% of those who didn't have access
  • This suggests that the internet plays an important part in the development of romantic relationship
• Absence of gating may be especially useful for shy people

  • Baker and Oswald (2010) surveyed 207 male and female students about their shyness, Facebook usage and the quality of their friendships
  • They found that for students who scored highly for shyness, greater use of Facebook correlated with higher ratings of friendship quality.
  • This highlights the positive role of virtual relationships for shy individuals
• Virtual relationships may lead to superficial relationships

  • Cooper and Sportolari (1997) found that online relationships could follow a boom and bust' pattern.
  • Disclosure levels were higher initially online (due to anonymity and increased sense of security), meaning relationships were more intense early on (Boom')
  • BUT... this intensity was impossible to sustain as relationships lacked basic trust, leading to break up ("Bust").
  • However, Rosenfeld and Thomas (2012) found no evidence to support this.
  • There was no difference between online and offline relationships in ratings of relationship quality.
  • This suggests that online relationships are no different to face-to face relationships, despite possible differences in self-disclosure levels.
• (not eval, just ao1)

  mckenna + bargh (1999) argue there are obstacles to relationship

  • are absent in VR = more likely to ''get off the ground'' faster, and deeper SD
  • more like ''true selves'' in VR
  • HOWEVER can create untrue identities to deceive people = can change gender, age, shy person can become an extravert