Social media is affecting your relationship. Social media is affecting your relationship.

Everything looks good, happy and successful here. Seeing this continuously, you also start having similar expectations in your relationship. These unrealistic expectations can spoil both your mental peace and relationship.

The habit of comparison on social media can actually have a negative impact on our mental health. When we see others' prosperity, happiness and successes, we start feeling insecure. This can make us face depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. It also affects our relationships. We often forget that what people share is only a glimpse. There are struggles and challenges in real life, which they do not show.

Therefore, it is important that we use social media thoughtfully and accept our reality. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your progress and happiness. This will not only improve our mental health, but we will also be able to strengthen our identity, self-esteem and relationships. To understand its impact, the Healthshots team spoke to Dr. Rahul Rai Kakkar, Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapy, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram.

Impact of social media on our relationships

Dr. Rahul says that social media imposes many unhealthy expectations on your relationships, which are quite different from reality. Relationships shown on social media are often perfect, romantic and without any problems. Due to this, we start comparing our relationships with these ideal looking relationships. It raises expectations that our relationship should be happy and perfect all the time. In fact, every relationship has its ups and downs, but on social media you only see the good moments, not the struggles or tough times.

Do not compare your relationship with the relationships seen on social media. images adobestock

The result is that you are not satisfied with your relationship and start thinking that perhaps there is something missing in our relationship. Additionally, relationships also start being evaluated by the number of followers or likes on social media, which can lead to feelings of insecurity and jealousy.

There are some benefits of social media in relationship (social media benefits in a relationship)

Yes, Dr. Rahul explains about its benefits that social media can work as a boon for some relationships. Social media can improve relationships in the following ways.

Helpful in long distance relationship

According to research published in 2023 in APA Psych Articles, social media use has positive effects when people use it actively. Family members and friends don't always live in the same city, state, or country. Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook provide quick and convenient ways to stay in touch with long-distance loved ones.

strengthens communication

A report published in PubMed Central in 2022 suggests that it is not a specific type of technology, but how it is used, that can improve relationships. Using tools like WhatsApp and texting during a dispute can also help with written communication for some people. This gives the person time and space to formulate the right words when face-to-face conversation becomes difficult.

Can increase pleasure in sex life

In the context of romantic relationships, social media can actually help in achieving sexual pleasure. Specifically, this concerns the perpetuation of pornography on social media. Research published by Cambridge University suggests that pornography can significantly increase sexual pleasure in a person's romantic relationship. However, how participants felt about this improvement depended on their confidence and desires.

Take these precautions while using social media for a good relationship (Effective ways to set boundaries for social media for healthy relationship)

Here are some tips from Dr. Rahul for managing social media use, in any type of relationship:

Unhealthy relationships can also affect mental health, life and wellness. Image: Shutterstock

put the phone away

It is very important to keep smartphones away when spending time together. With this you can communicate better with your partner and stay connected with them. It makes the time even more special and strengthens your relationships. Taking a break from technology gives you a chance to spend quality time with each other.

Plan some special dates

Plan activities that don't leave time for scrolling, like cooking, gardening, or playing sports together. These will not only bring you closer to each other, but will also teach you new skills. With this kind of activity, you will have fun as well as adopt a healthy lifestyle. This time spent together will become memorable.

Ban the phone in the bedroom

A better option would be to leave the phone outside while going to your bedroom at night. This will improve the quality of your sleep and you will be able to rest without any disturbance. Apart from this, it will also give you a chance to give some time to yourself and your partner before sleeping, so that you will be able to remain mentally calm and also share all the emotions of the past day with each other. Also, a good night's sleep will make you feel fresh and energetic the next day.

Do not keep in touch with ex

Contacting your ex on social media can make your current partner feel insecure, so it is better to avoid it. This can not only create tension in your relationship, but also weaken trust. It is always beneficial to prioritize open and honest communication with your partner, so that your relationship remains strong and stable.

don't overshare

You should avoid sharing small things about your relationship on social media. By doing this some part of your personal life becomes public, which can increase misunderstandings and insecurities. It is better to keep your special moments limited to yourself, so that both of you can deeply understand and cherish your relationship.

Also read: Rekindle relationship: Give another chance to a broken relationship, follow these tips to convert distance into closeness.