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Facebook makes you jealous

Mitchell LeBlanc   on 18 August 2009 - 15:32 · 37 comments & 7040 views

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A study from the University of Guelph has linked Facebook usage with an increase in relationship jealousy. It is reported that certain "triggers" can increase relationship friction.

The leader of the study, Amy Muise, said that one such trigger occurs with the mere viewing of our partner's Facebook page. We may do so often, and if while doing so we see a post that says, "Had a great time last night", we are prone to feelings of jealousy. The issue escalates when those who have found potentially revealing information seek to find more, assuming the role of a "Facebook creeper".

Muise pointed out that real life has many triggers as well, but often there are contexts in which they can be reconciled. There is no such context on Facebook.

A real-life example of said jealousy occurred when Georgina Hobbs-Meyer became a victim of divorce due to Facebook. She found lusty messages between her husband and some other woman and ultimately decided to end the relationship.

We have seen the current age of technology become increasingly prevalent in job application processes with managers checking up on potential employees through various social networking means. This new study shows the encroachment of Facebook, not only into our professional lives, but our relationships as well.

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(2 replies) #1 Andrew Lyle on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:04
This is very true! Facebook makes and breaks relationships..
#1.1 Conjor on 18 Aug 2009 - 17:30
#1.2 Jugalator on 18 Aug 2009 - 19:06
Andrew Lyle said,
This is very true! Facebook makes and breaks relationships..

Can't be very tight relationships, in that case... I have never felt anything like what's described when reading my new gf's page.
#2 +what on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:04
Didn't need a study to prove this. You can tell some people get jealous on it so easily if they missed out on a night out or a party or whatever.
#3 Conjor on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:16
Facebook feeds peoples need for social interaction. Its a natural human drive to seek out interaction. Facebook provides this but on a level that produces situations in which are far different from the norm and humans cant really cope with. Its understandable that many people can read things online and make the wrong assumptions, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships (like boyfriends/girlfriends, ect), assuming the worst (like someone is cheating on you).
A real-life example of said jealousy occurred when Georgina Hobbs-Meyer became a victim of divorce due to Facebook. She found lusty messages between her husband and some other woman and ultimately decided to end the relationship.

If there is a problem in a relationship, I do not want to find out about through an online website. I myself do not use facebook on a regular basis. I find exactly this thing happens far to often, to me and other people, and prefer to do my social interactions away from it.
(1 reply) #4 lunamonkey on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:30
She found lusty messages between her husband and some other woman and ultimately decided to end the relationship.


That was nothing to do with Facebook. They could have been sms / email / face-to-face flirting
#4.1 Calum on 19 Aug 2009 - 10:42
Um, yes, but the evidence was the Facebook flirting, therefore it relates to Facebook. It's not Facebook's fault directly but that is how it links to Facebook...
(3 replies) #5 3dfxman on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:37
I disabled my facebook account because of this.
#5.1 Jebadiah on 18 Aug 2009 - 20:46
LOL
#5.2 Shiranui on 19 Aug 2009 - 00:26
Jebadiah said,
LOL


Are you honestly laughing out loud?
#5.3 Jebadiah on 19 Aug 2009 - 03:38
Yes. Past tense.
#6 JenkinsTheButler on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:39
Keep in mind that it's not just Facebook; All social networking sites can have this effect on people. But it's not the sites that make people jealous or insecure. It's the users themselves that do that. People control relationships, not websites. I'm sorry for anyone who gets upset or insecure about their relationship from Facebook or any social networking site. If a website challenges your relationship, maybe its time to log off and call your girlfriend.

Remember, it's just a website. If Facebook ruined my relationship, I'd submit a bug report.
(1 reply) #7 Ambroos on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:41
That's why I don't post anything meaningfull on facebook.
#7.1 MindTrickz on 18 Aug 2009 - 17:40
Ambroos said,
That's why I don't post anything meaningfull on facebook.


Riiiight... THAT's why.
(1 reply) #8 +TrekRich on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:43
i dont use facebook so i really dont give one!
#8.1 Majesticmerc on 19 Aug 2009 - 12:22
Thanks for sharing
(1 reply) #9 lunarworks on 18 Aug 2009 - 16:56
My girlfriend gets quite upset whenever an old school friend (from 20 years ago) adds me. At this point I've just given up on Facebook.
#9.1 perochan on 18 Aug 2009 - 17:46
lunarworks said,
My girlfriend gets quite upset whenever an old school friend (from 20 years ago) adds me. At this point I've just given up on Facebook.


your girlfriend has some serious jealousy issue. old ex girlfriend i can see, but old school friends???
(4 replies) #10 .beta on 18 Aug 2009 - 17:08
I don't like social networking sites..the are so complicated. :/
#10.1 cabron on 18 Aug 2009 - 17:42
.beta said,
I don't like social networking sites..the are so complicated. :/


Same here, these social networking sites are made for stupid people that trying to socially in from of a PC. Try the real world people and get some sun!
#10.2 Glendi on 18 Aug 2009 - 18:47
cabron said,
Same here, these social networking sites are made for stupid people that trying to socially in from of a PC. Try the real world people and get some sun!


Facebook connects you with all your friends the same time.

I wonder if you go out in real life with 500+ friends or more at once.
#10.3 dagrimdialer619 on 18 Aug 2009 - 22:06
Glendi said,
Facebook connects you with all your friends the same time.

I wonder if you go out in real life with 500+ friends or more at once.


It's just too easy. Gosh.
#10.4 The Gunslinger on 20 Aug 2009 - 15:16
cabron said,
Same here, these social networking sites are made for stupid people that trying to socially in from of a PC. Try the real world people and get some sun!


I totally agree. I dont see the point of facebook, except maybe meeting up with "friends" I haven't seen in a while...But that being said, there is a reason I don't see them in the first place.

Sometimes, it seems some of friends that are on facebook like collecting "friends" like they are some kind of pokemon!
#11 hotdog963al on 18 Aug 2009 - 17:52
It's odd how many people on here don't use social networking... too busy fixing computers I guess aye?
#12 +Napalm Frog on 18 Aug 2009 - 18:00
I only get jealous of the people who go on epic vacations. Other than that, meh.
#13 Jugalator on 18 Aug 2009 - 19:09
Seriously.. I'm surprised about all the posts in this thread. We have none of these problems, and my gf knows I have a number of friends of mixed genders, and it's working out here despite even currently being a distance relationship... Jeez, if you have problems with a girl/guy being so easily jealous, I'd get out of it regardless Facebook. That can't form a lasting relationship anyway. If someone can't even trust a friendly reply on something simply being... a friendly reply.
#14 metro on 18 Aug 2009 - 19:09
Facebook does not contribute to this. The people who do it contribute to it. They would do the same if they didn't have Facebook. It's just a social medium that makes it easier if you are a dishonest person.
(1 reply) #15 NinjaGinger on 18 Aug 2009 - 22:00
I aint got no friends so it don't matter. I just have acquaintances.

JOKE
#15.1 Shiranui on 19 Aug 2009 - 00:27
NinjaGinger said,
I aint got no friends so it don't matter. I just have acquaintances.

JOKE


It's no joke, and you know it.
#16 cleverclogs on 18 Aug 2009 - 22:33
Which is one of the reasons I don't use facebook.
#17 C_Guy on 19 Aug 2009 - 05:36
Oh, please. Facebook makes people jealous as much as owning a gun makes you a homicidal maniac.

People make people jealous. Just like people shoot people. The gun (Facebook) is just the tool of choice.
(1 reply) #18 Conjor on 19 Aug 2009 - 15:00
I joined facebook just to join the anti-facebook group on facebook.
#18.1 Magallanes on 20 Aug 2009 - 00:19
i don't known if you are being sarcastic or if you really join facebook to join the anti-facebook group.
:-/

(1 reply) #19 The Guardian on 20 Aug 2009 - 17:05
I used to be on Facebook, but I deleted my account, got bored of it. Same old crap, so and so did this or that, or took some stupid test, and the result is splattered on the homepage...and many more. So just left it, much to the surprise of some of my friends, I might add!
#19.1 DATmafia on 21 Aug 2009 - 03:39
So dang true! It was fun for a minute to see what all the fuss was about but after a few minutes it got old and stale and I don't get the point of having a wall and sending crap to people, same thing with myspace. Myspacers are nowadays more known for cruising for casual sex than getting anything worthwhile out of the site. Twitter is much the same time suck. Do you really care knowing inane things like what someone had for lunch or that they headed out with Jessica? Social networking is for LEWSERS!
#20 alex09 on 14 Nov 2009 - 07:55
Looks good but it would be nicer if you could add your own sources online Nursing degree AND Fast degree AND Associate Degree


#21 alex09 on 14 Nov 2009 - 07:56
Thank you. I do believe in this concept completely. I have proven it to myself again and again from both the positive and the negative sides, when I was not aware! With awareness came strength, and with strength came empowerment. Since believing in this is empowering, why would I not believe in it? It sure is the way to success in all possible ways
Online Science Degree AND get degree

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