Couples and Social Media: How does the Internet Influence your Love Life?

Just in time for Valentine's Day, you might be wondering how significant a roll social media plays with your significant other-or lack there of (But don't pull out the tissues just yet, if it's the later. There's still time. Online dating, anyone?) In any case, a survey conducted by Pew Internet takes an in-depth look at how social media, cell phones and the Internet both negatively and positively influence the life of many American couples.

The survey took place from April 17 to May 19, 2013, with a sample of 2,525 adults, age 18 and up, with telephone interviews conducted for both English and Spanish participants.

According to the findings, an average of 66 percent of adults who are married or in committed relationships let these types of media play a key note in both the bigger and  smaller moments of their lives.

Furthermore, the survey showed that while some couples may find that social media helps with communication, a majority, on the other hand, may abstain from certain technologies over a period of time or even maintain separate email and social media accounts from their partner. However, two-thirds of couples involved in the research actually shared passwords for some social media applications. 

When it came to the overall impact of technology on long term relationships, the findings note that 10 percent of Internet users, including married couples or partners, believed the Internet played a major influence on their life. For 17 percent, they said it only held a "minor impact." And for a full 72 percent of married or committed partners, they said it made "no real impact" on their relationship. However, 74 percent of those users said it positively impacted their relationship, 20 percent said the impact was negative, and 4 percent said it was both good and bad.

Communication when it's through a screen or held to the ear can always get a bit dicey. Here's what the results showed for technology as an added source of tension: Twenty-five percent of cell phone users in a marriage or partnership said they felt their spouse or partner was often distracted by their cell phone; 8 percent of Internet users said that an argument had previously resulted from the amount of time spent online, and 4 percent said Internet users in a committed relationship had gotten upset about something they found their partner or spouse was doing online.

The results also showed that 67 percent of those in a committed relationship or marriage have shared a password to one or more of their online accounts with a spouse or partner.

However, the findings really dig into the difference between how technology plays a significant role in newer versus older relationships.

The study concludes the following, via a press release: "Couples who have been together for 10 years or less show different patterns of technology usage in the context of their relationship compared with those who have been together for a longer period of time. Couples who have been together for a decade or less-also typically younger than those who have been together for longer-are much more likely to have used dating services or the Internet to meet their partner, to use technology to help with the logistics and communication in their relationship, and to report that the Internet had an impact on their relationship. Adults who are long-partnered use technology in their relationship, but are more likely to use some of it together-by sharing email addresses and social media profiles as a couple."

At the end of the day, whether you're single or getting married, social media all of our daily lives. (How can it now when we've all got our iPhones glued to our ears and eyes?) Does social media positively or negatively influence your relationships? Share in the comments below.