Social Media Use In Romantic Relationships: A Qualitative Research

Yıl 2024, Sayı: 16, 98 - 121, 29.06.2024

Gül Esra Atalay , Yağmur Tanrıverdi , Yıldız Arıcı

https://doi.org/10.55609/yenimedya.1428821

Öz

The increase in social media platforms has led to many aspects of human relations experienced through these digital platforms. Romantic relationships are also one of the areas affected by this change. While social media makes it easier for couples in the dating phase to communicate, it also provides interactions such as reinforcing and nurturing emotional relationships and celebrating special moments by sharing them with other users. Mobile applications and messaging platforms allow couples to communicate uninterruptedly and share their daily lives despite physical distances. On the other hand, it is also observed that communication established through social media negatively affects romantic relationships by causing problems such as jealousy, trust issues, and the tendency to control the partner. In this context, the study aimed to examine the use of social media in relationships. In this qualitative research focusing on the use of social media in romantic relationships, in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 people, men and women over 18, who use social media in Turkey. The findings were analyzed through codes and categories. As a result of the analysis, partners' thoughts about social media usage, interaction, following, etc., nine different categories covering different aspects have been reached. Findings have shown that social media use is a factor that affects romantic relationships in different aspects, such as jealousy, negligence, and digital surveillance, and can be perceived as an indicator of the seriousness of the relationship. Considering that similar studies in Turkey are few and are generally associated with social media addiction, this research is expected to contribute to the field by addressing the impact of social media on romantic relationships more comprehensively.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Romantic relationship, Social media, Social media and jealousy, Social Media and surveillance, The effect of social media on couples.

Romantik İlişkilerde Sosyal Medya Kullanımı: Nitel Bir Araştırma

Öz

Sosyal medya platformlarının yaygınlaşması, insan ilişkilerinin birçok yönünün bu dijital platformlar üzerinden yürütülmesine yol açmıştır. Romantik ilişkiler de bu değişimden etkilenen alanlardan biridir. Sosyal medya, flört aşamasındaki çiftlerin birbirleriyle iletişimini kolaylaştırırken; duygusal ilişkileri pekiştirmek, beslemek ve özel anları diğer kullanıcılarla da paylaşarak kutlamak gibi etkileşimleri de sağlamaktadır. Mobil uygulamalar ve mesajlaşma platformları sayesinde çiftler, fiziksel mesafelere rağmen kesintisiz iletişim kurabilmekte ve günlük yaşantılarını paylaşabilmektedir. Diğer taraftan; sosyal medya üzerinden kurulan iletişimin kıskançlık, güven sorunları ve partneri kontrol etme eğilimi gibi problemlere yol açarak romantik ilişkiler üzerinde olumsuz etkileri olduğu da gözlemlenmektedir. Bu kapsamda çalışmada romantik ilişkilerde sosyal medya kullanımının irdelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu nitel çalışmada Türkiye’de sosyal medya kullanan 18 yaş üstü kadın ve erkek toplam 16 kişiyle derinlemesine görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular kod ve kategoriler aracılığı ile analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan analizler sonucu partnerlerin sosyal medya kullanımlarına ilişkin düşünceleri etkileşim, takipleşme vb. yönlerden ele alan dokuz farklı kategoriye ulaşılmıştır. Sonuçlar sosyal medya kullanımının romantik ilişkileri, kıskançlık, ihmal, gözetim gibi farklı açılardan etkileyen bir faktör olduğunu ve ilişkinin ciddiyet düzeyini dair bir gösterge olarak algılanabildiğini göstermiştir. Türkiye'deki benzer çalışmaların az sayıda olduğu ve genellikle sosyal medya bağımlılığıyla ilişkilendirildiği göz önüne alındığında; bu araştırmanın sosyal medyanın romantik ilişkiler üzerindeki etkisini daha kapsamlı bir şekilde ele alarak alana katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Romantik ilişki, Sosyal medya, Sosyal medya ve kıskançlık, Sosyal medya ve gözetim, Sosyal medyanın çiftlere etkisi.

Kaynakça

• Abbasi, I. S. (2018). Social media and committed relationships: What factors make our romantic relationship vulnerable? Social Science Computer Review, 37(3), 425-434. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439318770609
• Abbasi, I. S., & Alghamdi, N. G. (2018). The pursuit of romantic alternatives online: Social media friends as potential alternatives. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 44(1),16–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X. 2017.1308450
• Ahmetoglu, G., Swami, V., & Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2010). The relationship between dimensions of love, personality, and relationship length. Archives of sexual behavior, 39(5), 1181-1190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9515-5
• Alikılıç, Ö., Alikılıç, İ., & Özer, A. (2019). Dijital romantizm: Y kuşağının romantik ilişkilerinde sosyal medyanın rolü üzerine bir araştırma. Erciyes İletişim Dergisi, 1(1), 57-80. https://doi.org/10.17680/erciyesiletisim.485005
• Arikewuyo, A. O., Efe‐Özad, B., Dambo, T. H., Abdulbaqi, S. S., & Arikewuyo, H. O. (2021). An examination of how multiple use of social media platforms influence romantic relationships. Journal of Public Affairs, 21(3), e2240. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2240
• Arikewuyo, A. O., Lasisi, T. T., Abdulbaqi, S. S., Omoloso, A. I., & Arikewuyo, H. O. (2022). Evaluating the use of social media in escalating conflicts in romantic relationships. Journal of Public Affairs, 22(1), e2331. https: https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2331
• Aydın, Y. E., & Uzun, N. B. (2021). Romantik ilişkilerde sosyal medya kıskançlığı ölçeği (RİSMKÖ): Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması. Uluslararası Toplum Araştırmaları Dergisi, 18(44), 7885. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.890331
• Baltaci, Ö. (2019). The predictive relationships between the social media addiction and social anxiety, loneliness, and happiness. International Journal of Progressive Education, 15(4), 73-82. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2019.203.6
• Bayram, H. (2021). Nitel araştırma yöntemleri: Sosyal bilgiler lisansüstü öğrencilerinin algısına i̇lişkin fenomenolojik bir çalışma. Üniversite Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(2), 108-118. https://doi.org/10.32329/uad.883957
• Baxter, L. A. (2004). A tale of two voices: Relational dialectics theory. Journal of Family Communication, 4(3-4), 181-192. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/15267431.2004.9670130
• Conley, T. D., Moors, A. C., Matsick, J. L., & Ziegler, A. (2013). The fewer the merrier?: Assessing stigma surrounding consensually non‐monogamous romantic relationships. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy,13(1),1-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-2415.2012.01286.x
• Coyne, S. M., McDaniel, B. T., & Stockdale, L. A. (2017). “Do you dare to compare?” Associations between maternal social comparisons on social networking sites and parenting, mental health, and romantic relationship outcomes. Computers in Human Behavior, 70, 335-340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.081
• Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Sage Publications.
• Dainton, M., & Stokes, A. (2015). College students’ romantic relationships on Facebook: Linking the gratification for maintenance to Facebook maintenance activity and the experience of jealousy. Communication Quarterly, 63(4), 365-383. https://doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2015.1058283
• Dursun, Ö. Ö., & Barut, E. (2016). Sosyal medyanın yeni sorunsalı: Sanal kimlikler. Eğitim teknolojileri okumaları. İçinde A. İşman, H. F. Odabaşı & B. Akkoyunlu (Editörler), Eğitim Teknolojileri Okumaları 2016. (ss. 535- 552). TOJET.
• Emond, M., Vaillancourt-Morel, M. P., Métellus, S., Brassard, A., & Daspe, M. È. (2023). Social media jealousy and intimate partner violence in young adults’ romantic relationships: A longitudinal study. Telematics and Informatics, 79, 101956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2023.101956
• Etcheverry, P. E., Le, B., & Hoffman, N. G. (2013). Predictors of friend approval for romantic relationships. Personal Relationships, 20(1), 69-83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2012.01397.x
• Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7 (2), 117– 140. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202
• Fox, J., Osborn, J. L., & Warber, K. M. (2014). Relational dialectics and social networking sites: The role of Facebook in romantic relationship escalation, maintenance, conflict, and dissolution. Computers in Human Behavior, 35, 527-534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.02.031
• Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., & Demetrovics, Z. (2014). Social networking addiction: An overview of preliminary findings. In K. P. Rosenberg & L. Curtiss Feder (Eds), Behavioral addictions: Criteria, evidence, and treatment. (pp. 119- 141). Elsevier Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-407724-9.00006-9
• Griffiths, M. D., & Kuss, D. (2017). Adolescent social media addiction (revisited). Education and Health, 35(3), 49-52.
• Güngör, N. (2022). İletişim: Kuramlar ve Yaklaşımlar. Siyasal Kitabevi.
• Halpern, D., Katz, J. E., & Carril, C. (2017). The online ideal persona vs. the jealousy effect: Two explanations of why selfies are associated with lower-quality romantic relationships. Telematics and Informatics, 34(1), 114–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2016.04.014
• Heimerl, F., Lohmann, S., Lange, S., & Ertl, T. (2014). Word cloud explorer: Text analytics based on word clouds. 47th Hawaii international conference on system sciences (pp. 1833-1842). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.2014.231
• Hughes, S., Champion, A., Brown, K., & Pedersen, C. L. (2021). # Couplegoals: Self-esteem, relationship outcomes, and the visibility of romantic relationships on social media. Sexuality & Culture, 25(3), 1041-1057. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-020-09808-3
• Kaya, Ö. (2022). Modern zamanlarda kaybolan bağlar, aşk etiği ve yalnız yaşam: Yapısalcı bir analiz. Sosyal ve Kültürel Araştırmalar Dergisi (SKAD), 8(17), 185-215. https://doi.org/10.25306/skad.1149169.
• Kıraç, R. (2019). Hastane randevu sistemlerinin hastalar açısından değerlendirilmesi. Sağlık Akademisyenleri Dergisi, 6(3), 189-195.
• Krueger, K. L., & Forest, A. L. (2020). Communicating commitment: A relationship-protection account of dyadic displays on social media. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 46(7), 1059-1073. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167219893998
• Kurtuluş, E. M., & Ayan, F. S. (2023). Dijital flörtleşme: Post-dijital sorunlara post-dijital çözümler. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 10(1), 447-465. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.984369
• Linardatos, L., & Lydon, J. E. (2011). Relationship-specific identification and spontaneous relationship maintenance processes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(4), 737-753. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0023647
• McDaniel, B. T., Drouin, M., & Cravens, J. (2017). Do you have anything to hide? Infidelityrelated behaviors on social media sites and marital satisfaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 66, 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.09.031
• McNaught, C., & Lam, P. (2010). Using Wordle as a supplementary research tool. Qualitative Report, 15(3), 630-643. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2010.1167
• Muise, A., Christofides, E., & Desmarais, S. (2009). More information than you ever wanted: Does Facebook bring out the green-eyed monster of jealousy? CyberPsychology & behavior, 12(4), 441-444. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0263
• Noller, P., & Elphinston, R. (2011). Time to face it! Facebook intrusion and the implications for romantic jealousy and relationship satisfaction. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 14(11) 631-635. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2010.0318
• Nongpong, S., & Charoensukmongkol, P. (2016). I don’t care much as long as I am also on Facebook: Impacts of social media use of both partners on romantic relationship problems. The Family Journal, 24(4), 351-358. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480716663199
• Orosz, G., Szekeres, Á., Kiss, Z. G., Farkas, P., & Roland-Lévy, C. (2015). Elevated romantic love and jealousy if relationship status is declared on Facebook. Frontiers in Psychology, 6(214), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00214
• Papp, L. M., Danielewicz, J., & Cayemberg, C. (2012). “Are we Facebook official?” Implications of dating partners' Facebook use and profiles for intimate relationship satisfaction. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(2), 85-90. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2011.0291
• Saslow, L. R., Muise, A., Impett, E. A., & Dubin, M. (2013). Can you see how happy we are? Facebook images and relationship satisfaction. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 4(4), 411–418. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550612460059
• Satici, B., Kayis, A. R., & Griffiths, M. D. (2023). Exploring the association between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction: psychological distress as a mediator. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21(4), 2037-2051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00658-0
• Sheets, V. L., Fredendall, L. L., & Claypool, H. M. (1997). Jealousy evocation, partner reassurance, and relationship stability: An exploration of the potential benefits of jealousy. Evolution and Human Behavior, 18(6), 387-402. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1090-5138(97)00088-3
• Sinclair, H. C., & Wright, B. L. (2009). Social networks: Effects on developed relationships. In H. T. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Human Relationships (pp. 1543- 1548). Sage Publication.
• Sprecher, S. (2011). The influence of social networks on romantic relationships: Through the lens of the social network. Personal Relationships, 18(4), 630-644. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01330.x
• Statista (2023, 7 Ekim). Global social networks ranked by number of users. https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global- social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/
• Tekin, H. H., & Tekin, H. (2006). Nitel araştırma yönteminin bir veri toplama tekniği olarak derinlemesine görüşme. İstanbul University Journal of Sociology, 3(13), 101-116.
• Toma, C. L., & Choi, M. (2015). The couple who Facebooks together, stays together: Facebook self-presentation and relationship longevity among college-aged dating couples. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(7), 367-372. https://doi.org/10.1089-cyber.2015.0060
• Tortamış, M. (2014). Evli bireylerde romantik kıskançlık düzeyi ve aldatma eğiliminin şema terapi modeli çerçevesinde değerlendirilmesi. [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi], Hacettepe Üniversitesi.
• Türk Dil Kurumu. (t.y.). Kıskançlık. Türk Dil Kurumu sözlüğü içerisinde. 17 Eylül 2023 tarihinde https://sozluk.gov.tr/ sitesinden alındı
• Wertz, F. J. (2005). Phenomenological research methods for counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 167. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.167
• Yacoub, C., Spoede, J., Cutting, R., & Hawley, D. (2018). The impact of social media on romantic relationships. Journal of Education and Social Development, 2(2), 53-58.
• Young, R., Len-Ríos, M., & Young, H. (2017). Romantic motivations for social media use, social comparison, and online aggression among adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior, 75, 385-395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.04.021