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Facebook Causes Romantic Jealousy

Don't think all those tagged photos, flirty wall posts and ominous status updates go unnoticed.

We were just thinking the other day how relieved we are that Facebook was just a twinkle in Mark Zuckerberg's eye when we were in high school. Read: Facebook Group: I Need Sex

We aren't entirely sure our fragile, angsty hearts could've handled the rush of photos, wall posts and status updates advertising the whereabouts and canoodlings of our various crushes. The gossipy hallways and yearbook inscriptions were about all we could take. Thanks.

So it came as no surprise when we read that a study of 300 college students revealed that Facebook incites a significant amount of romantic jealousy, adding fuel to the obsessive-compulsive nature of "crushing" in general. C'mon a Facebook profile is a 24-hour, all-access portal to a person's life. A stalker's fantasy. You can rummage and ruminate without the other person ever knowing. Watch: Facebook Manners And You

The results published in the August issue of the journal CyberPsychology & Behavior proved that just about everything from new friend additions to benign Facebook activity made students feel jealous. The average student had 300 friends and spent 40 minutes a day on Facebook. However, those who spent more time on the social networking site reported even greater feelings of jealousy.

While we won't say these emotions are necessarily justified (don't turn a Facebook poke into a mountain), 75 percent of those surveyed said they would accept a friend request from a previous lover. Read: Can You Really Be "Just Friends" With An Ex?

Perhaps the most interesting tidbit from the study in general was how the sexes view Facebook differently. Girls, as the study says, were more likely to "monitor their partner's activities more closely" while guys took the opposite approach and "avoided" their love interest's profile.

 

Can you relate?

Discussion

Posted October 26, 2009

Is it bad of me to sometimes use FB with the intent of causing jealousy in my exes and/or crushes?!

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BookMama Married Happily Married
Posted October 26, 2009

Yes. Making guys jealous on purpose doesn't work in the long run.

Score: 0
Bsg67 Married
Posted August 20, 2009

Hmmm...
Maybe the causality is the other way around? Something like "insecure people who are prone to romantic jealousy are attracted to Facebook" ?

Score: -1
Lyz Married Community Manager
Posted August 20, 2009

That might not work because everyone seems to be attracted to facebook.

Score: 0
Bsg67 Married
Posted August 20, 2009

I guess I'm not part of everyone ;-)
More seriously I didn't say "ONLY insecure people who are prone to romantic jealousy are attracted to Facebook", what I suggested was that this category might be statistically more attracted than others.

Score: 0
BookMama Married Happily Married
Posted October 26, 2009

I think the category that is most attracted to Facebook is younger people. I suspect that in some age ranges, it's almost mandatory to have a Facebook page.

Score: 0
LyndaW Married Blunt Open Honest Married
Can't Relate - Posted August 20, 2009

Seems to me it's as simple as "Don't ask a question you don't want an answer to." and "Seek and Ye shall find." It is a virtual world! Can we please limit ourselves to worrying about the ~REAL~ world~ Sheesh! Use face book to learn how to become a better girlfriend. Learn what turns him on and off. Not how to destroy a relationship because of suddo jealousies and insecurities!

Just My 2cnts
Bright Blessings,
LyndaW

Score: 0
Macy Single
Posted August 19, 2009

I think i know why us ladies are more into monitoring our exes profiles than men are: all the men went straight to Sexbook after breaking up, haha! http://www.pointsincase.com/columns/casey-freeman/facebook-of-sex

Score: 0

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