Exploring the Role of Social Networking Sites in Romantic Relationships of University Students

Abstract

This study focuses on how university students with romantic relationships experience their relationships through social networking sites, and how they perceive user behavior. The fact that there are no qualitative studies on how the use of social networking sites affects the way of experiencing romantic relationships conducted in Turkey is the starting point of this research. The study was carried out with 12 participants (six females, six males) between the ages of 20-28 who were studying in the undergraduate departments of a state university and had a romantic relationship. The study was conducted in a phenomenological pattern. In the study, the data obtained with the semi-structured interview form were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that the use of social networking sites triggers romantic jealousy. It has been established that social networking sites are an essential source of information about the potential spouse. Various likes, messages, comments, and requests from other users are perceived as elements that threaten the romantic relationship. To prevent behaviors that participants perceive as a threat to their romantic relationships, it was determined that they opened a joint account to increase the visibility and awareness of their romantic relationships and made various shares indicating their relationship status. In addition, as a result of romantic jealousy, it was also determined that participants exhibited the behavior of following their romantic partners.

Keywords

• Romantic relationships
• Social networking sites
• Romantic jealousy
• Romantic relationship quality
• University students

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Romantik İlişkilerinde Sosyal Ağ Sitelerinin Rolünü Keşfetmek

Öz

Bu çalışma, romantik ilişkisi olan üniversite öğrencilerinin bu ilişkilerini sosyal ağ siteleri aracılığıyla nasıl deneyimlediklerine ve kullanıcı davranışlarını nasıl algıladıklarına odaklanmıştır. Türkiye’de yürütülen çalışmalarda sosyal ağ sitesi kullanımının, romantik ilişkileri deneyimleme şeklini nasıl etkilediğine yönelik nitel çalışmaların bulunmaması bu araştırmanın çıkış noktasıdır. Çalışma, bir devlet üniversitesinin lisans bölümlerinde öğrenim gören ve romantik ilişkisi bulunan 20-28 yaş arasındaki 12 (6 kız, 6 erkek) katılımcıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma fenomenolojik desende yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada, yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formuyla elde edilen veriler tematik analiz yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, sosyal ağ sitelerinin kullanım şeklinin romantik kıskançlığı tetiklediğini göstermektedir. Sosyal ağ sitelerinin potansiyel eş hakkında bilgi toplamak için önemli bir kaynak olduğu, aynı zamanda diğer kullanıcılardan gelen çeşitli beğeni, mesaj, yorum ve isteklerin romantik ilişkiyi tehdit eden unsurlar olarak algılandığı belirlenmiştir. Katılımcıların romantik ilişkilerine yönelik tehdit olarak algıladıkları davranışları önlemek amacıyla; romantik ilişkilerinin görünürlüğünü ve bilinirliğini arttırmaya yönelik ortak hesap açtıkları ve ilişki durumunu belirten çeşitli paylaşımlarda bulundukları belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca romantik kıskançlığın bir sonucu olarak, katılımcıların romantik eşlerini izleme davranışını sergiledikleri belirlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Romantik ilişkiler
• Sosyal ağ siteleri
• Romantik kıskançlık
• Romantik ilişki kalitesi
• Üniversite öğrencileri

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