A new study has revealed that couples who always post their pictures on social media are less happy than those who don’t. This study has confirmed what many cynics already suspected: Couples who share sappy selfies on social media may not be as happy as they want the world to believe.
A Shotkit survey of two thousand couples ages 18 to 50 took a closer look at respondents’ happiness levels and social media habits. Undeniably, every person in a relationship who has a Facebook, Instagram or TikTok profile of course shares selected highlights of their relationship. However, the results found that those who shared three or more couple selfies per week were less happy than other, more low-key, couples.
Only 10 percent of selfie-obsessed couples surveyed considered themselves “very happy,” in contrast to 46 percent of those who were more reserved on social media.
Couples, social media and happiness: Science’s opinion
The data collected by the survey confirms a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas, which sheds light on the impact of social media on happiness in relationships.
After surveying over 300 couples and analyzing their online sharing habits, the research confirmed the link between social media use and relationship satisfaction.
Excessive Posting: Love or Performance?
The excessive posting often results in feelings of comparison and jealousy — a nowadays common phenomenon amongst social media couples.
Snapshots of seemingly perfect moments and happy photos of other couples can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. When you constantly want to expose your happy moments on social media, it becomes difficult not to make comparisons with others, which could put a strain on the dynamics of your relationship.
On the other hand, the study highlighted that those who publish less are in turn less inclined to indulge in the harmful habit of comparing themselves to others. As a result, by avoiding the constant pressure to display an idealized version of their relationship, these couples are more likely to embrace authenticity and genuine happiness.
Finally, research suggests that consciously reducing social media use can also foster a healthier, happier relationship.
Instead of getting trapped in each other’s curated lives, couples should focus on nurturing their bond and cherishing the real, imperfect yet precious moments they share together.
