There’s many factors that can affect a romantic relationship negatively that stem from online behavior or our phones; from text distractions, to jealous online interactions, or even searching for infidelity – is your phone / social media / technology affecting your relationship?
Many people encounter some type of tech-related struggle with their significant other.
- Distracted too much with text messages / DMs
- Amount of time spent online vs. together as a couple
- Relationship comparisons from other’s social media posts
- Investigating exes / flings behind their partner’s back
- Jealousy from how their partner acts online with others
- Searching for cheating opportunities / infidelity
Among partnered adults in the U.S. – that is, those who are married, cohabiting, or in a committed relationship, roughly half (51%) say their partner is often or sometimes distracted by their phone while they’re trying to have a conversation with them.
(source: Pew Research Center)
Many people are bothered by the amount of time their partner spends on their mobile device. This can lead to anxiety about who/what/where their partner is looking, especially if their partner is spending more time on their phone than the relationship.
Roughly half of social media users (53%) say they have used these platforms to check up on someone they used to date or be in a relationship with.
(source: Pew Research Center)
Social media plays a role in the way we look at and share information about our romantic relationships. Do you compare your relationship to what is being shown online by others? Moreover, social media can be a place where some users investigate old flings/exes.
I think everyone can agree to some extent that social media can be a source of annoyance and conflict for couples. Many say they have felt jealous or unsure of their relationship because of the way their current partner interacts with others on these sites.
How can you fix the issues that are occurring from social media and effectively communicate with your partner? Learning the Imago dialogue can open up the lines of communication. It is an outlined communication technique that helps couples restore connection and empathy. If you feel that technology is affecting your relationship:
