Let's talk about sex
Idyllic presentations of relationships on social media
Interactive technology has been associated with creating relational boundary issues because there is continuous access to ex-partners/new potential romantic interests, chat boxes, cybersex, and pornography. Partners who are overly invested in social media websites may induce feelings of jealousy, envy, suspicion, surveillance, and infidelity in the other partner.
These platforms give the impression that there are many suitable alternatives, thereby facilitating romantic comparison processes. That is, the perception of an ideal partner or an ideal relationship portrayed on social media may lead partners to internalize unrealistic norms, thereby negatively evaluating their own partner or relationship and decreasing their relationship commitment.
More frequent exposure to alternative partners may lead to more pursuing of alternative partners, starting with apparent innocuous messages between potential alternatives that can easily develop into flirtation, leading to emotional infidelity, and even cybersex or engaging in (sexual) affairs. Note that the idyllic presentations of relationships on social media - often including perfect couples with perfect bodies - may induce body image concerns and relational or sexual insecurities, eventually leading to sexual problems.
To avoid these negative impacts is complicated, however, one simple advice could be to openly discuss the issue within couples and, for example, to regularly unplug from nonessential media and technology practices as a way to feel how relationship commitment changes.
Marieke Dewitte
Assistant Professor
Section Experimental Health Psychology, Clinical Psychological Science, Departments, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
Bibliographical references
You may also like
Let's talk about sex
Positive relationship influences of interactive technology
Many scientific and societal debates about the use and effects of interactive technology in relationships are shaped by implicit or explicit negative beliefs.
Let's talk about sex
Smartphones and social media: Relationship killers?
Interactive technologies (e.g., smartphones, internet, social networking sites) are a regular part of everyday life. Staying constantly connected to others- through email, social networks, or immediate messages - has become the new social norm, with the majority of us constantly texting and checking emails on-the-go and having incorporated several social network sites in our daily routine. The variety of applications across platforms has generated increased dependency on our mobile devices, pervading into our social life and romantic relationships.
Let's talk about sex
Alternatives to traditional sex
When it comes to sex, people tend to consider intercourse. It’s easy to get trapped into thinking that sex means one course of action: foreplay, penetration, and orgasm. But there are many ways to enjoy sexual pleasure. Lots of people have desires and needs that go beyond traditional ideas of intercourse. Sometimes couples feel stuck into rigid sexual repertoires and barriers to intimacy. Also, there are many circumstances in which penetrative intercourse is not the option for sexual partners.
