The Truth About Online Relationships

The Truth About Online Relationships

Sarah McColley (9th), Reporter

“It can tear a relationship apart and I don’t think it’s worth it.”

It seems that social media is the most common way for teens to communicate with each other these days.

It’s becoming more and more popular to put relationships on the internet or social media for anyone to see, but it is not healthy for the relationship.

A recent study on Pewinternet.org revealed, “75% of teens said that social media affects romantic relationships negatively.”

Although some couples like to share posts or photos that concern their relationship, it can lead to horrible consequences such as harassment and abuse.

This harassment can include stalking, bullying, hurt them and even blackmail them. The abuse a teen can receive online from a partner can be emotional, physical, and mental.]

Twenty-seven percent of teens have used social media to track their partner’s whereabouts. Eleven percent of teens with relationship experience report a former or current partner has threatened to hurt them and eight percent of teens have had a current or former partner used information against them online.

Social media can cause a partner to feel jealous, insecure, and even distant. Even the simplest actions such as liking or commenting on a photo can cause jealousy to occur. It can leave the partner feeling insecure because they question their partner’s loyalty to them, which will cause them to eventually distance themselves from you.

“I believe it’s true,” Miguel Torres, a ninth grader at Pitman states. “I think when you see your girlfriend or boyfriend with someone else it makes you question if you’re good enough.”

A healthy relationship consists of love, trust, respect, and faith. Trust needs to be solid in the relationship, and both partners need to be comfortable with each other. They also need to be careful with what they choose to share online.

Even though there can be a lot of negative consequences, there are some positives about putting social media online. A Pewinternet.org survey showed that 47% of teen daters said

“Social media makes them feel like they have a place to show how much they care about their boyfriend, girlfriend, or significant other.”

Think twice before posting online!