If you’ve found yourself in a new relationship, one University of Missouri School of Journalism student has a little advice for you — stay far away from Facebook.
According to Russell Clayton, a doctoral student at Mizzou, Facebook addicts could actually be harming their relationships with significant others. While the social networking site is perfect for catching up — or stalking that old high school crush — it also equips partners with the ability to keep tabs on their significant other.
“Facebook-induced jealousy may lead to arguments concerning past partners,” Clayton told the News Bureau. “Also, our study found that excessive Facebook users are more likely to connect or reconnect with other Facebook users, including previous partners, which may lead to emotional and physical cheating.”
Clayton and his fellow researchers — Alexander Nagurney, an instructor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and Jessica R. Smith, a doctoral student at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio — surveyed Facebook junkies between the ages of 18 to 32. Those surveyed were asked to detail how often they used Facebook and how often they engaged in disputes with their partners.
The result of the study concluded that those who used Facebook abundantly also suffered from higher levels of conflict with their significant others. These conflicts didn’t end peacefully; couples oftentimes would eventually succumb to temptations of cheating, breaking up or divorce.
Clayton, Nagurney and Smith also found that Facebook stalking seemed to be the most detrimental to newer couples, those that had only been in a relationship for three years or less.
But don’t worry young couples! Clayton has a solution.
He suggests cutting back to “healthy” doses of Facebook. For couples that are still trying to learn more about each other, the study suggests that they do so in person instead of clicking through their high school prom photos.
