Social Media Use In Romantic Relationships: A Qualitative Research

Year 2024, Issue: 16, 98 - 121, 29.06.2024

Gül Esra Atalay , Yağmur Tanrıverdi , Yıldız Arıcı

https://doi.org/10.55609/yenimedya.1428821

Abstract

The increase in social media platforms has led to many aspects of human relations experienced through these digital platforms. Romantic relationships are also one of the areas affected by this change. While social media makes it easier for couples in the dating phase to communicate, it also provides interactions such as reinforcing and nurturing emotional relationships and celebrating special moments by sharing them with other users. Mobile applications and messaging platforms allow couples to communicate uninterruptedly and share their daily lives despite physical distances. On the other hand, it is also observed that communication established through social media negatively affects romantic relationships by causing problems such as jealousy, trust issues, and the tendency to control the partner. In this context, the study aimed to examine the use of social media in relationships. In this qualitative research focusing on the use of social media in romantic relationships, in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 people, men and women over 18, who use social media in Turkey. The findings were analyzed through codes and categories. As a result of the analysis, partners' thoughts about social media usage, interaction, following, etc., nine different categories covering different aspects have been reached. Findings have shown that social media use is a factor that affects romantic relationships in different aspects, such as jealousy, negligence, and digital surveillance, and can be perceived as an indicator of the seriousness of the relationship. Considering that similar studies in Turkey are few and are generally associated with social media addiction, this research is expected to contribute to the field by addressing the impact of social media on romantic relationships more comprehensively.

Keywords

Romantic relationship, Social media, Social media and jealousy, Social Media and surveillance, The effect of social media on couples.

Romantik İlişkilerde Sosyal Medya Kullanımı: Nitel Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Sosyal medya platformlarının yaygınlaşması, insan ilişkilerinin birçok yönünün bu dijital platformlar üzerinden yürütülmesine yol açmıştır. Romantik ilişkiler de bu değişimden etkilenen alanlardan biridir. Sosyal medya, flört aşamasındaki çiftlerin birbirleriyle iletişimini kolaylaştırırken; duygusal ilişkileri pekiştirmek, beslemek ve özel anları diğer kullanıcılarla da paylaşarak kutlamak gibi etkileşimleri de sağlamaktadır. Mobil uygulamalar ve mesajlaşma platformları sayesinde çiftler, fiziksel mesafelere rağmen kesintisiz iletişim kurabilmekte ve günlük yaşantılarını paylaşabilmektedir. Diğer taraftan; sosyal medya üzerinden kurulan iletişimin kıskançlık, güven sorunları ve partneri kontrol etme eğilimi gibi problemlere yol açarak romantik ilişkiler üzerinde olumsuz etkileri olduğu da gözlemlenmektedir. Bu kapsamda çalışmada romantik ilişkilerde sosyal medya kullanımının irdelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu nitel çalışmada Türkiye’de sosyal medya kullanan 18 yaş üstü kadın ve erkek toplam 16 kişiyle derinlemesine görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular kod ve kategoriler aracılığı ile analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan analizler sonucu partnerlerin sosyal medya kullanımlarına ilişkin düşünceleri etkileşim, takipleşme vb. yönlerden ele alan dokuz farklı kategoriye ulaşılmıştır. Sonuçlar sosyal medya kullanımının romantik ilişkileri, kıskançlık, ihmal, gözetim gibi farklı açılardan etkileyen bir faktör olduğunu ve ilişkinin ciddiyet düzeyini dair bir gösterge olarak algılanabildiğini göstermiştir. Türkiye'deki benzer çalışmaların az sayıda olduğu ve genellikle sosyal medya bağımlılığıyla ilişkilendirildiği göz önüne alındığında; bu araştırmanın sosyal medyanın romantik ilişkiler üzerindeki etkisini daha kapsamlı bir şekilde ele alarak alana katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.

Keywords

Romantik ilişki, Sosyal medya, Sosyal medya ve kıskançlık, Sosyal medya ve gözetim, Sosyal medyanın çiftlere etkisi.

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