Impact of Social Media on Relationships

1047 Words3 Pages

Social networking can connect strangers across the world. As the evolution of communication continues, technology progresses and social networking grows. Social networks like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have grown to have billions of users. In fact in today’s society, it is necessary or nearly expected to use one if not all of these technological communication networks. The increasing use of social networking has had both a negative and positive effect on communication in relationships. The purpose of this literary analysis is to answer if social networks are helpful or harmful to relationships.

As social networking evolves, different aspects of communication suffer. Such as the social penetration theory, which “describes people as onions with several layers of information

pressed tightly together. The outermost layer consists of the kind of information you would get

from someone upon first meeting them; their name, age, where they’re from. Beneath this

biographical information things began to grow more personal, from religious and political views

to the core concept of one’s own self” (Pennington, 2008, p.6). Due to social networking, the idea of moving through the onion layers is nonexistent. Upon become “Facebook friends” with someone, one can find out where that person is from ,whom they have dated, where they were last night, and what is their family’s favorite Christmas tradition. Of course, the sender of the friend request is not at fault, because society struggles with “what is private vs. what is public”. The research done suggests that by looking to the natural views of how the social penetration theory society has evolved that two things result; (1) we have different concepts of public vs....

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... altered concepts of “how to share information” and “what is public or private”. This is valuable because it connects the Social Penetration theory to social media. It also outlines the effects Facebook has on relationships.

Sponcil, M., & Gitimu, P. (n.d.). Use of social media by college students: Relationship to communication and self-concept. Retrieved from http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/121214.pdf

This study examines social media among college students and how it affects self-concept and communication with peers. It explains the importance of the effects social media has on personal communication and self-esteem. It emphasizes that social media offer straightforward ways to communicate with peers and get immediate peer feedback, which might influence young adult’s self-esteem. This article connects the idea self to the overarching theme of relationships.

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