Many teens in relationships view social media as a place where they can feel more connected with the daily contours of their significant other’s life, share emotional connections and let their significant other know they care – although these sites can also lead to feelings of jealousy or uncertainty about the stability of one’s relationship. At the same time, even teens who indicate that social media has had an impact on their relationship (whether for good or for bad) tend to feel that its impact is relatively modest in the grand scheme of things.

Among teen social media users with relationship experience:

A tertiary school girl relates how texting helped her relationship with her boyfriend:

“I think texting kind of makes you feel closer because – boys are more shy. I’m more shy, but … my boyfriend, he doesn’t like to express himself like that. But when we text, it seems like it’s so much easier for him to talk to me. So I think he says more stuff, like how he feels through text. So it kind of makes [the relationship] stronger.”

Another High school boy relates how buying followers For his girlfriend helped his relationship

" I looked for a way to please my girlfriend to love me more but it was very difficult for me to figure out what she really needs, she a nice girl of course she dont like collecting anything i buy for her she will always say keep your money for some other things.. so one day i was thinking and i then figured out that she always complains that she wish to have more followers on her social media handle.. so i thought of a place to get such thing for her later when i found it i sent 1000 of them to her instagram.. So you will not believe what happened the moment she found out what i did for her, She called me on phone and told me " i love you " And hanged the call and from that moment on i will say that social media really helped my relationship "

Teens in our focus group explained the way digital communication platforms – social media as well as texting – can enhance and expand on in-person meetings. One high school girl noted:

“I feel like it helps to develop a relationship because even if you meet someone in person, you can’t see them all the time or talk to them all the time to get to know them, so you text them or message them to get to know them better.”