How the Rise of Social Media Has Impacted Human Relationships

The rise of social media platforms have made them ubiquitous to our daily lives, revolutionising the way we communicate with each other. It is now easier than ever to keep in touch with our friends and family with just a simple text through platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and more, replacing most face-to-face communication. Although this can be beneficial in creating and maintaining relationships, it can become strenuous on pre-existing relationships due to a lack of quality time spent together and a myriad of other reasons. In this article, we will be exploring the positive and negative impacts that stem from the rise of social media on human relationships.   

(Jason Howie, 2013)

What are the Positive Impacts of Social Media on Relationships? 

1. Improved Connectivity and Communication 

With the world being connected now more than ever, the ability to communicate with friends and family instantly at any time has proved to be tremendous, especially with an increasing number of long-distance relationships around the world. Additionally, according to clinical psychologist Margaret E. Morris, social media can act as an extra way for us to communicate - a way for individuals to express their feelings through an argument on writing with enough space and time to properly process their emotions before doing something irrational. 

2. Fostering Empathy and Acceptance 

The rapid rise of social media provides a platform for individuals to freely express themselves from the safety of their homes. This can be especially beneficial for people with shy personality traits who find it easier to form new connections and express their ideas, thoughts and feelings when given the ability to properly formulate a response. 

What are the Negative Impacts of Social Media on Relationships? 

1. Mental Health 

According to studies conducted in 2022 by the Canadian Psychological Association and in 2021 by Temple University, it was found that passive use of social media which consists of scrolling through other people’s social media pages without actively interacting with them is more likely to cause an individual to experience greater stress and anxiety levels, reducing someone’s sense of social belonging and connection, and in extreme cases, failing to maintain or form new face-to-face interpersonal relationships. 

2. Miscommunication 

By replacing face-to-face communication with texting on social media platforms, nonverbal communication such as tone, which is an essential part of our interpersonal relationships, are completely omitted, often leading to unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings between friends and family.

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