Virtual relationships in social media

• Virtual relationship

  A relationship that doesn’t exist on a face to face basis
• Reasons self disclosure can occur more online

  Restrictions/social norms removed online

  Body language/facial cues removed

  Deindividuation - hidden identity

  Anonymity
• Rubin 1975

  Similar to stranger on the train - disclosing more as you will never see them (again)
• Hyper personal model

  Easy to disclose as you may never meet

  Ghosting
• Gating

  Barriers we face irl before getting into relationships

  Age, attraction, mannerisms