Social Media is Definitely Ruining Romance

Believe it or not, there was a time before the men and women of the world seemed like they were constantly at war with each other.

Relationships were — get this — comforting. The “prom date to lifelong spouse” pipeline was a dream that felt real and attainable for millions. Romance bore a stronger resemblance to cheesy rom-coms than it did to Game of Thrones (or any other dated reference).

…That’s the prevailing perception, anyway. It’s entirely possible that the romantic endeavors of yesteryear were just as messy, dramatic, and even outright destructive as they’re perceived  today. 

But after pouring through the data ourselves…we really doubt it.

Exactly when this “war between the sexes” started is certainly up for debate, but we have an idea of who fired the first shot.

Social media…

It is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Here’s how we found out…

To get to the bottom of what might actually  be the most bizarre and divisive conflict of our time, we questioned 1,000 participants living in the United States on how social media has impacted their dating lives. To cast as wide a net as possible, we polled volunteers aged between 18 and 90. 

Some of our subjects have only known a world where breaking up with someone after two weeks of drama happened in front of everyone you knew – and all their friends had the “receipts.”

Others remember the “good old days,” when you could have an entire relationship with someone without anyone realizing it until it was already over. For our younger readers, this was when “friends” were the people who showed up at your apartment without any announcement whatsoever, rather than some weirdo you met at a party in 2011 and never got around to removing from your feed yet.

So let’s take a deep dive into the toxic waste that is dating in the Social Media Platform Age.

Given the popular attitudes on the internet, whether it’s the armchair “scientists” on Reddit threads or the “doomers” on YouTube, this first result may seem a little surprising. And it’s even more astonishing considering the results you’re about to see.

Nevertheless, a strong 60% of our volunteers feel that social media has positively affected  relationships as a whole. 

If we pause for a second to consider the logistical advantages, social media can make finding and maintaining relationships much more effortless. Remember – there was a time when “romance” included leaving a voice message on an answering machine that might not be heard for days or even weeks at a time.

Considering the ease of communication social media provides, it’s easy to see how just 13% of respondents feel social media negatively impacts  relationships.

Alright, let’s get toxic.

You may have grown up hearing that trust is the foundation of any relationship, romantic or otherwise. Looking at the results here, it’s truly a wonder how romantic relationships haven’t gone the way of the Neanderthal. 

As you can see, nearly 80% of our respondents have questioned their partner’s commitment based on something they’ve seen on social media. 

Now, we couldn’t exactly verify if those feelings had merit. Following 1,000 people’s partners around all day crosses some legal barriers. But it can be pretty hard to be secure in your relationship, considering you and everyone you know is walking around with a mobile tracking device. 

Why is he taking a picture of his food at that downtown restaurant? He never does that…is there anyone with him?

Maybe we really were living in bliss when a person’s day-to-day activities were a complete mystery unless we were in the same room the entire time.

The immortal wisdom of the phrase “be careful what you post” clearly hasn’t reached enough people…

Either that or platforms shine a light on things our ancestors blissfully overlooked.

Up to 60% of our respondents indicated they have called off a relationship after seeing something their partner posted on social media. 

Here’s where it gets interesting…

By breaking responses down to gender identity, it appears males are more likely to call it quits on a relationship after seeing something on social media. However, with 40% of women indicating that they’ve pulled the plug based on something they’ve seen on the internet, that shouldn’t be taken to mean that they’re dramatically less likely to do so. 

If anything, this is a dealbreaker the sexes can agree on.

Let’s face it – thanks to the incriminating algorithms on platforms like Instagram, someone’s feed can easily resemble something far more risqué than a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition after just a few hours of scrolling. 

While some partners may not consider looking the same as flirting, taking the extra step to hit the “like” button seems to cross boundaries for many.

Especially men.

According to our survey, nearly 65% of respondents consider liking someone’s photos, reels, or stories to be a form of flirting. 

Broken down by gender, almost 80% of men feel this way, compared to around 50% of women.

So, if you’re in a relationship, and your “friend” is posting some vacation pics from somewhere with a coastline, it might be better to keep scrolling .

Adult content is nothing new on the Internet (and, heck, even before);some of the oldest forms of art are explicitly lewd in nature. But there’s no denying that social media has made it easier than ever to access. And new platforms like OnlyFans and Fansly have taken this access to a new level.

Now, people who can’t get someone to text back can live a whole new fantasy – if they keep up with their monthly payments.

I don’t think we need to explain the appeal of services like this. Having a pretty person shower you with affection and NSFW photos seems like a solid business model. What has us scratching our heads is who the customers are…

Our study shows that adult content creators, particularly women, get most of their following from individuals aged 55 and up. After that, the age breakdown seems equally  distributed between the other groups studied.

Broken down by relationship status, single people unsurprisingly follow the most creators of this type – but they’re followed closely by those in relationships. Married individuals pull in at a close 3rd place as well.  

If you’ve ever picked up your phone and immediately wanted to pour highly-concentrated bleach into your eyes, you know what we’re referring to.

We could say that “flirting” has evolved over the past few decades, but that doesn’t even begin to describe the depravity many have been subject to without permission.

According to our survey, over 13% of women and just under 7% of men have received unsolicited photos of an intimate nature.

For most readers, it’s probably not surprising that women receive nearly twice the amount of unwelcome pictures like this through social media.

Breaking up may not just be the end of a romantic connection these days  – it often means purging every semblance of someone from your life entirely.

Just about every social media platform allows users to block other accounts. This will stop them from appearing on your feed, and prevent them from messaging you through that platform. Even if you remain connected with mutual friends, they won’t appear in comment threads, and you typically won’t appear to them either.

Obviously, there are perfectly valid reasons to do this. The blocking feature helps many avoid harassment of many kinds. However, there are those who feel this complete cutoff isn’t always deserved.

According to our survey, nearly 70% of men have exes blocked on social media. Curiously, women fall behind, with around 60% having their previous partners blocked.

Social Media’s Silver Lining

The development of social media – instantly connecting everyone in the world to everyone else – has created just as many complications as it has conveniences. Romantic relationships are just one shining example.

But there are some net positives – even this dreary survey revealed a few of them.

If nothing else, social media has made it easier than ever to market yourself. Every niche that would have been dismissable before has an entire community behind it. Social media platforms give these otherwise underground communities a voice – and the opportunity to market within it.

And while marketing on social media has become a trade all on its own, making your voice – or your brand – heard can be easier than you think it is. That’s where Manychat comes in.

Manychat provides a host of tools that turn the maze of social media marketing into a straight road. Its unique chat marketing technology connects instantly and efficiently connects your promotions to prospective clients and customers. 

If nothing else, the Social Media age has made it easier than ever to be a business owner.

Methodology

Study Objective

This study aims to explore how social media is impacting romantic relationships in the United States. With a focus on relationship dynamics, the survey investigates changes in communication, trust, satisfaction, and conflict arising from social media interactions.

Participant Recruitment

- Sampling Frame: The study surveyed individuals across the United States aged 18 to 90, covering a broad range of relationship statuses, income levels, and educational backgrounds.

- Recruitment Method: Participants were recruited through Amazon’s MTurk, an online survey platform, to gather a diverse sample. A small monetary incentive was provided to compensate for the time required to complete the survey.

Data Collection

- Instrument: A custom questionnaire with 35 questions was developed, including 5 demographic questions and 30 questions focused on social media usage and relationship impacts.

- Pilot Testing: A preliminary pilot survey led to revisions in 13 questions to improve clarity, flow, and the accuracy of responses.

- Survey Format: The survey was administered online, allowing participants to respond anonymously from any location.

Survey Content and Measures

- Demographic Questions: These included age, gender, income level, education, and relationship status.

- Frequency and type of social media usage.

• Impact on relationship satisfaction, trust, and jealousy.

- Changes in communication patterns and conflict resolution related to social media.

- Questions included: Likert scale items for attitudinal responses, multiple-choice questions for usage patterns, and open-ended responses for qualitative insights.

Data Analysis

Comparative Analysis: The survey aimed to compare responses across demographic variables such as age, gender, income, and education.

Margin of Error: With a sample size of 1,000, the survey’s margin of error is ±3.10% at a 95% confidence level, providing a high level of precision in capturing national trends within this population.

Data Storage and Processing: All survey data is stored and analyzed using Tableau, ensuring secure handling without collecting any personally identifiable information (PII).

Ethical Considerations

Informed Consent: Participants were informed about the study’s purpose and gave consent before beginning the survey.

Data Security: All data was anonymized, and no PII was collected. Data storage and analysis are conducted within Tableau to maintain confidentiality.

Reporting and Distribution

Findings Presentation: Results will be summarized in a comprehensive report supported by infographics. Visualizations will highlight key insights and trends across demographic variables.

Media Distribution: An early release of findings will be offered to selected publishers, allowing media outlets to cover the study’s insights on social media’s impact on romantic relationships.

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