Facebook causes the ugly head of jealousy to raise in relationships
It seems that social networking sites are responsible for rearing the ugly head of jealousy in relationships. They make people obsessively seek information on their partners. Even a simple and innocent photo can trigger feelings of suspicion and hearing gossip and rumors really gets the head spinning. The study by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada has found Facebook addicts can really harm their relationship with this obsession. A paper that is entitled “More Information than You Ever Wanted: Does Facebook Bring Out the Green-Eyed Monster of Jealousy?” found that usage and feelings of jealousy become intertwined and have a negative influence on behaviour and relationships. Professor Dr Brenda Wiederhold, editor of CyberPsychology & Behavior said: “The more time college students spend on Facebook, the more likely they are to feel jealous toward their romantic partners, leading to more time on Facebook searching for additional information that will further fuel their jealousy, in an escalating cycle that may become addictive. This research on university age individuals is an excellent starting point to begin asking additional questions on how this new forum might be impacting the dynamics of adult relationships and other social processes.” So, Facebook seems to be having some negative effect. All you need to do is trust your better half! Although in some ways Facebook makes it harder to hide the deeds of cheating significant others.
[Telegraph]
