title: Romantic relationship development in the age of Facebook: an exploratory study of emerging adults' perceptions, motives, and behaviors.
abstract: Social networking sites are becoming a prevalent form of communication in the escalation of romantic relationships. An online survey (n=403) addressed emerging adults' experiences with Facebook and romantic relationships, particularly a unique affordance of Facebook: the ability to declare oneself as "In a Relationship" and actively link one's profile to a romantic partner's, commonly known as going Facebook official. Results identified common social perceptions of the meaning of this status (regarding commitment, intensity, and social response) and both interpersonal and social motives for posting it on Facebook. Additionally, sex differences were identified in perceptions of meaning, wherein women felt this status conveyed commitment and intensity moreso than men did. Implications of this discrepancy on heterosexual relationship satisfaction and the prevailing role of technology in romantic relationships are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Communication, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1339, USA. fox.775@osu.edu
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Warber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D060756:Social Networking; D012938:Social Perception