Social media has changed our lives completely. Networks such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook have altered the ways we communicate. However, we millennials tend to overlook these changes. Although it is easier to come in contact with our loved ones, social media has caused lack of intimacy, leads partners to act on more obsessive behavior, created isolated social environments, and developed a “know everything” culture that destroys the mystery of getting to know someone.
What is the “know everything” culture?
The “know everything” culture is most prominent with millennials. When you meet someone, you have the ability to go onto any social media network and look that person up. It is a helpful quality of technology because it allows you to know a bit about the person you’re interested in. However, it can be detrimental when the person seems to put “everything” on their social media networks. This not only takes the mystery out of getting to know someone but it removes all first date conversation and automatically accelerates the conversation. Instead of asking that person where they are from, the conversation is 2nd or 3rd date conversation. Social media is a world of its own and there are people who post every aspect of their lives on their platforms. These people are “open books” and this quality tends to diminish interactions between people because it is easy to feel like you know everything you need to know about a person.
What are isolated environments?
An example of an isolated social environment is when, in a room full of people, everyone there is using their cell phones. We’ve all been there, it happens when we hang out with our friends on a Friday night or when we’re watching a movie with our significant other and they decide to use their phone. In partnerships, people often feel alone even though they may be right next to their partner. This lonesome feeling is especially visible when you speak to someone and what you said just goes “right over their head.” There’s a need for that person to repeat themselves and the other person to respond as if nothing just happened. It’s clear that if this happens only once there is no need to feel isolated, however, if this occurs in excess one of the partners will feel wronged or lonesome.
Lack of Intimacy
Lack of intimacy develops as people in partnerships feel that their partner prioritizes time on their cell phones more than the time they are supposed to spend together. Arguments arise when one partner isn’t aware of when the right time to use their device is. This leads to miscommunication and a rise in arguments that wouldn’t be an issue to begin with.
Obsessive Behavior
Obsessive behavior develops when partners are too caught up with what exactly their partner does on social media. Technology develops feelings of jealousy and removes people’s privacy when in relationships. Simple things such as liking someone’s picture or not posting a picture of their partner can create unnecessary arguments. People have resorted to unfollowing their partners because they couldn’t handle having to see everything their partner does. An untrusting environment is created that leads to unhealthy actions such as invading someone’s privacy. We should stop letting this control our relationships. A like or a follow means nothing. It isn’t something we should prioritize as much as this generation does.