Social media is a significant part of the modern
human experience. It infiltrates every part of life. There is great value in understanding the
nature of social media in every sphere of its influence, especially the
romantic relationship. The general public has long been concerned over the
suspected harmful impact of social media in relationships. This literature
review synthesizes studies over the past decade on the relationship between
social media usage and romantic relationship satisfaction. While many
problematic outcomes have been found for romantic partners due to social media,
other studies have shown positive effects. Most of these social media behaviors
foster unintentional consequences, whether positive or negative. A few examples
of negative social media influences include increased partner suspicion,
conflict, and pressure. Ultimately, these produce lower levels of satisfaction.
Benefits from social media’s inclusion in the life of a couple, such as easier
communication and common interest building, were found to positively impact
satisfaction. Additionally, this review interacts with unique studies on the
impact of intentional social media abuses, including addiction and
unfaithfulness. The overarching theme is the circular causality of romantic
satisfaction. There are many interacting factors involved in social media’s use
and the way it is perceived among partners. These must be studied in greater
depth to truly capture social media’s pull in romantic relationships. In review
of the literature, specific considerations toward sampling and measurement are
noted. Opportunities for further research include employing new research
methods and focusing on the impact of social media on the family system. These
findings have the potential to improve the quality of therapy among
professionals who work with couples. Public agencies can use such information
to improve education and implement preventative measures in the social media
arena. In this review, social media is referred to as SM for the sake of brevity.
