The popularity of the digital and internet technology had made it possible for the public to get more accustomed with the social media networks. The commutation process for people all across the globe has been highly enhanced due to huge popularity of the social media websites. As per the report of Zurbriggen et al. (2016), there are currently more than 1 billion users of Facebook, all around the globe. Nearly 70% of all the users belong to the age category of adolescents and that of the young adults, which is the age category of 12-24 years. The improvement in the digital technology and the ease of use of social media networks have been the cause of dramatic spike in the total number of users of Facebook. According to the report of Rueda et al. (2015), the college and adolescent individuals all across the globe spend on average 1-2 hours time every day on Facebook.
In spite of the fact that they are huge growth of social media users especially that of Facebook, there has been very little research done up on the potential implications of romantic relationships. The popularity of the social networking site has made it easier for young adults to make and enhance the relationship. The huge publicity of the social networking websites have made it easier for young adults to describe the status of relationship. With the help of Facebook, it is possible to easily communicate in the form of verbal and nonverbal mode to reach out to their respective partners. The previous research for related to social media websites has claimed that rising popularity of this websites does have a significant impact on all types of relationship between young adults and adolescents. Nevertheless, there has not been several research done in the past that has focused upon the matters related to practical impact and the ways these intimate relationships are being carried out by young couple all across the globe.
Hence, in this context of the current research is to highlight up in the ways that are being adopted by young adults in order to enact intimacy in their relationship. Property Data Collection process will be followed in order to understand the present scenario about young couples and the way they carry out their relationship with the help of Facebook. It is also important to mention that due to the unique nature of the social context that is associated with that of the use of Facebook, it is important to assess its role in escalating all types of romantic relationship. It is also important to assess traditional model related to relationship in order to understand the impact of Facebook in the modern era of building of romantic relationship. Hence, it will be possible to conduct research upon the impact of technology on human behaviour of relationship.
The applicability of social networking sites is a major part of the Internet service, where it is possible for the user to create their own profile providing personal details about their identity and may also provide detailed description about the lifestyle. As per mentioned by Yeo and Chu (2017), one of the main purposes of the social networking sites used to connect with other unknown person, with whom they can expect to have healthy level of friendship by having some common area of interest. The tracing of first-degree connections is one of the important aspects of collective use of social networking sites.
Fox et al. (2013), have added in this context that one of the main advantages of social networking interaction compared to that of other digital interaction is due to the anonymous nature that is predominantly used to share various stories of their lifestyle with the help of pictures, videos, and other stories. Facebook is currently believed to be the most popular social networking sites, which is mainly due to the fact that besides direct communication it is also possible to share various aspects of daily life with high level of efficiencies like pictures and videos. This is also possible due to the fact that Facebook regularly changes its user interface in order to provide better experience today users, where they can share important stories their individual timeline profile. There is special section within the Facebook profile of a user, what they can provide detailed description about their personal life and past history. For example, one can provide details regarding the school, college and other education qualifications along with currently existing professional experience. The can also share their thoughts about political, social and religious experience. There is also a special section within the Facebook profile, where individual can provide details about their relationship status in the form of marriage or engaged. It is also possible to acknowledge someone’s post or stories that are being shared on Facebook in the form of clicking the option of Like button. Currently Facebook has updated that option, where it is possible to provide emotional feedback to someone’s post. There is also the option of tagging some individual in a story or picture that are being shared in their newsfeed, through which it is possible to dedicate some post or provide special mention to someone, who is within their friendliest (Freeman and Brinkley 2014).
Individuals can share their opinion about other’s post in the form of making comment and showing emotional expression. The messaging service that is provided by Facebook is also essential to communicate with people all across the community.
As per the research work of Miller et al. (2016), individual express themselves by constructing effective identity, in the form of friendship development while creating individual profile on social media networks like Facebook. Fox et al. (2013), have mentioned the importance of Facebook and other social networking sites on our offline life, where most people focus upon developing romantic relationship especially for the age group of young adults. In the context of high rate of popularity of Facebook, it is imperative that high level of examination is required for developing the meaning of relationship that is initiated through the use of this popular social networking website. The research work of Reed et al. (2015), have shown that individuals may be developing new norms and expectation about developing special form of relationship that is generally reflected in their behaviour of communicating with another individual.
It is important to mention in this context that the way people in enact and elaborate themselves in front of strangers Especially to that of opposite gender of same age, most of them have the potential of developing and interpersonal relationship. The research work of Miller et al. (2016), have concluded that development of relationship with the help of Computer-mediated technology such as SMS or email and text-based chat can be one of the effective ways to develop private relationships among the age group of adolescents and young adults.
According to Fox et al. (2013), it can be said that the social information processing theory, where detail interpersonal information can be used as a tool to develop intimate relationship with individual of opposite gender. This interaction can be developed with the help of computer-mediated communication process, which is sometimes more effective than physical face to face interaction, especially among the young adults. With the popularity of social networking websites, individual person has changed the way they represent to some other stranger of opposite gender. Use of personal history and attractive photographs in a form of profile picture a few of the effective tools that are used by individuals in initiating the process of intimate relationship. Once a person has the ability to access other’s Facebook profile, it is possible for them to get detailed information. This can help them to decide upon their choice of choosing their respective partner at initial stage.
This is mainly possible due to the effective mapping structures that are used by Facebook, where individual information are provided in a systemic manner. Other individual can examine this chugging information, which is in contrast in assumption making, which is one of the common way to develop relationship in traditional ways. Social penetration theory can be also applied effectively due to the user-friendly nature of Facebook. With high level of introduction that is possible through the help of Facebook, especially in the form of chatting and sharing important stories of each other’s personal life, it is possible to develop high level of trust and intimacy that is usually unfolded slowly. Billedo et al. (2015), have mentioned about the fact that effective design of Facebook can also help to provide high level of depth information about an individual. This is believed to be one of the effective ways to encourage high deep level of conversation among two unknown individuals. Hence it is possible for two individuals to understand and know each other at high interpersonal level without even initiating actual physical communication. Moreover, the high amount of time that is spent by young adults with social networking sites increases their opportunity of disclosing themselves to opposite partners.
According to Fox et al. (2013), one of the major reason for high rate of the popularity of Facebook is due to the fact that it has been designed in a special way, where people can decide upon their personal settings about the accessibility of information that they provide. Hence it is possible for an individual to have the choice of providing details about themselves only to few of the other uses of their choice. This is believed to be one of the effective ways, where privacy level is enhanced for all Facebook users. This is mostly essential in the context of the fact that there are many fake and unethical individual, who can misuse other’s personal data in the name of developing initiate interpersonal relationship.
In this context, Mod (2010), have argued about the fact related to the actual level of implication of Facebook. With the growing popularity of Facebook, there has been an increasing tendency among several individuals to provide fake and false information about themselves in order to extract individual of opposite gender to develop high level of interpersonal relationship. Fox et al. (2014), have added in this context that in spite of high level of security that is being provided by Facebook authority, it is quite challenging for a user to identify fake information that are being provided in some user’s profile. The process of creeping is associated in this context, where it is possible for an individual to visit other’s profile that can help them to get their detailed personal information without their consent. This is highly sensitive due to the fact that individual can unethical get information and thereby gets the opportunity to misuse the same in the public. For example, there are cases, where individual had downloaded some pictures and misused the same that can hamper personal reputation in the public forum and also can be highly embarrassing for the respective individual.
Kimpton et al. (2016), have mentioned that authorities are on Facebook are constantly updating their security settings, that is inch to prevent the misuse of personal level of information. There are also special sections in Facebook, where it is possible for an individual to get valuable advice about identifying false and fake profile and also improve their level of security of personal stories and information, which they are sharing in the public forum. Individuals need to be more cautious during the time they are expecting initial development of intimate relationship through the mode of personal chatting.
The current literature that is obtained from past research work has highlighted it up on the ways through which, individual especially the young adults can develop high level of interpersonal relationship with opposite genders. Nevertheless, the major gap that exists in the literature is due to the fact that it has not focused on the ways that can be implemented by the Facebook users in order to avoid development of false relationship and identifying fake individuals. Hence it is essential for future research work to develop ways that can help to provide valuable suggestions to the young adults, while they are expecting to develop initiate relationship through the help of Facebook communication.
The research methodology of any research project plays an important role as it helps in offering an insight into the research strategy and research approach undertaken, in order to complete a particular research project. This specific chapter of the research will help in giving an in-depth knowledge regarding the research methods to be adopted, in order to complete the research and to ensure the reliability and authenticity of the findings and conclusion. Often in absence of proper research method, the conclusion can be fallacious and misleading. Hence, it is important to ensure the proper selection of the research methodology, so that the most accurate conclusion can be deduced.
The research philosophy or paradigm is defined as the set of beliefs and ideas underlying the approach undertaken in a particular research project. There are three distinct kinds of research paradigms- positivism, realism, and Interpretivism. This particular research will employ the use of Interpretivism, as it will help in analyzing the present scenario, critically reflect and evaluate the way Facebook impacts relationship formation of young adults, and develop a deep understanding of the user psychology while engaging in relationships over virtual platforms. Positivism or Realism will not be used here, simply because the research project intends to develop an understanding of the research problem, rather than merely testing the validity of the hypothesis. Hence, an open investigation of the psychology of the users engaged in virtual relationship over Facebook will be needed, for which it is important to interpret their attitudes and opinions. Hence, Interpretivism has been chosen (Mackey and Gass 2015). The aim of the research is not merely to generalize and test the validity of the hypothesis, but rather to interpret, understand the patterns of human behavior.
There are two main ways in which the research problem can be approached- inductive research approach and deductive research approach. While the Deductive approach is a kind of approach which intends to test the validity of assumptions in hand, the inductive approach interprets the research problem through careful investigation, and lead to the emergence of new theories and generalizations (Taylor et al. 2015). The present research will employ the use of inductive research, as the aim of the research problem is to critically evaluate the way adult people engage in intimate relationships over Facebook. In absence of adequate past research, the research will help in developing new theories and models of behaviors, and provide unique insight into the human psyche, while forming relationships with virtual platforms. Hence, human behavior will be studied and carefully investigated, rather than merely discovering a causal relationship between the two variables of the hypothesis.
As far as data collection method is concerned, he qualitative research method will be chosen, whereby the non-statistical data will only be collected. This method has been chosen as it will help in understanding and interpreting the behavior and attitudes of the Facebook users, while they engage in any form of emotional relationship on Facebook. Numerical data has no significance here. The focus group interview will be organized, on 50 respondents, who will be provided with open-ended questionnaire, and whose responses will be recorded and attitudes will be observed, for arriving at the conclusion (Flick 2015). In absence of sufficient past research, the research will be completely reliant on the use of primary data, that is first-hand data as collected from the 100 chosen respondents, through the focus interview session.
In order to select the respondents needed for the focus group interview, the stratified sampling technique will be chosen (Panneerselvam 2014). Accordingly, the sample population will be chosen only if the respondents satisfy certain criteria, which are stated as follows:
In order to analyse the qualitative data, the transcript of the interview session of the interviewees will be kept and will be later critically analyzed. The thematic analysis will be done on the responses of the respondents, and common patterns and meanings will be discovered to arrive at the conclusion.
Conclusion:
From the expected findings of the above research work, it is possible to develop the facts related to that of the use of Facebook as a source of developing intimate level of interpersonal relationship among young adults. The findings can also highlight upon the practical effect of relationship among couples that are initiated through the mode of Facebook communication.
Due to the popularity of social media networks and huge amount of time that is spent by young adults in the use of these websites, there is a significant chance of developing intimate relationship. The above research work and focus upon the ways that can be implemented by Facebook authorities and users in order to prevent the misuse of the social networking platform while developing long-term relationships among individuals.
The major ethical concerns that are associated with this research are due to the fact that the researchers need to collect data through personal interview. Hence, there is a chance of violating individual level of comfort among the interview participants. In order to maintain ethics within the research work, it is essential to ensure that interview participant are not forced to provide personal information that is needed for conducting the research.
The total budget is estimated to be $AU 15,000
Personnel Subtotal: $AU 5,000
Subtotal Equipment: $AU 2000
Subtotal Material and Supplies: $AU 1,000
Subtotal Travel $AU 1,000
Subtotal Publication $AU 1,000
Subtotal Other Direct Costs $AU: 1000
Subtotal Focus Groups $AU: 2000
Subtotal Indirect Costs $AU: 4000
The major limitations of this research are shortage of time and money, which will not allow the researcher to collect wide range of data that would have been appropriate for the current investigation. There is also the case of ethical concerns, which has not allowed the researchers to collect the wide range of data that are needed for the research.
Reference:
Billedo, C.J., Kerkhof, P. and Finkenauer, C., 2015. The use of social networking sites for relationship maintenance in long-distance and geographically close romantic relationships. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(3), pp.152-157.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner’s guide to doing a research project. Sage.
Fox, J., Osborn, J.L. and Warber, K.M., 2014. Relational dialectics and social networking sites: The role of Facebook in romantic relationship escalation, maintenance, conflict, and dissolution. Computers in Human Behavior, 35, pp.527-534.
Fox, J., Warber, K.M. and Makstaller, D.C., 2013. The role of Facebook in romantic relationship development: An exploration of Knapp’s relational stage model. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(6), pp.771-794.
Freeman, L.K. and Brinkley, J., 2014. Length Matters: Message Metrics that Result in Higher Levels of Perceived Partner Responsiveness and Changes in Intimacy as Friends Communicate through Social Network Sites. The Journal of Social Media in Society, 3(1).
Kimpton, M., Campbell, M., Weigin, E.L., Orel, A., Wozencroft, K. and Whiteford, C., 2016. The relation of gender, behavior, and intimacy development on level of Facebook addiction in emerging adults. International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning (IJCBPL), 6(2), pp.56-67.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge.
Miller, J.H., Danielson, C., Parcell, E.S., Nicolini, K. and Boucher, T., 2016. Blurred Lines: Privacy management, family relationships, and Facebook. Iowa Journal of Communication, 48(1), pp.4-22.
Mod, G.B.B., 2010. Reading romance: The impact Facebook rituals can have on a romantic relationship. Journal of comparative research in anthropology and sociology, 1(2), p.61.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
Reed, L.A., Tolman, R.M. and Safyer, P., 2015. Too close for comfort: Attachment insecurity and electronic intrusion in college students’ dating relationships. Computers in Human Behavior, 50, pp.431-438.
Rueda, H.A., Lindsay, M. and Williams, L.R., 2015. “She Posted It on Facebook” Mexican American Adolescents’ Experiences With Technology and Romantic Relationship Conflict. Journal of Adolescent Research, 30(4), pp.419-445.
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
Yeo, T.E.D. and Chu, T.H., 2017. Sharing “Sex Secrets” on Facebook: A Content Analysis of Youth Peer Communication and Advice Exchange on Social Media about Sexual Health and Intimate Relations. Journal of Health Communication, pp.1-10.
Zurbriggen, E.L., Ben Hagai, E. and Leon, G., 2016. Negotiating privacy and intimacy on social media: Review and recommendations. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 2(3), p.248.
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