Kyrell Artis

January 14, 2015

Senior Project

Topic: Impact of Social Media on Relationships of Young Adults

Social Media can be defined as the collection of websites, applications, and other
outlets that allow someone to create and share content or to participate in social
networking. (Found on Google.com) A young adult can be defined as a person between
the ages 18 - 25. (Found on hrweb.mit.org) A relationship is the way in which two people
are connected or the state of being connected. (Found on Google.com) A young adult
relationship can be defined as a connection between two people between the ages of
18 and 25 years old.
Statement of Interest: I am interested this topic because it is something I often think
about and discuss. I have currently been in a romantic relationship for about 2 years;
my parents also started their relationship in their teenage years. The four of us often
discuss the different hindrances relationships have today due to social media, and most
times it is concluded that there are many more distractions today that can destroy
relationships.
Essential Question: How can young adults build and manage a healthy relationship in
the Age of Social Media?
Project Overview: My projects goal will be to explore and ultimately find a solution to
the detriment introduced to relationships through social media. I want to help people
gain control over their relationships and learn to disregard the crippling effects social
media can bring.
Research:

According to another article written by Pew Research Center there are more negative
effects that are associated with social media and relationships. These findings are
results from interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates
International from 4/17/3-5/19/13 among a sample of 2252 adults ages 18 and older.
42% of cell-owning 18-29 year olds in a serious relationship say their
partner has been distracted by their mobile phone while together
18% of online 18-29 year olds have argued about the amount of time one
of them spent online
(Lenhart, Duggan, 2014, pg.1)
pewinternet.org/2014/02/11/couples-the-internet-and-social-media/
In a study conducted by the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), a peer led sexuality
education curriculum based in Oregon, a survey of 11 questions was put together and
distributed to 200 students 9th-12th grade with a good mix of rural, urban, and suburban
youth. Their answers provide an accurate depiction of the connection between
relationships and social media. Here are some statistics found:
75% said social media affects romantic relationships negatively
27% said Facebook is one of the top two ways people their age begin their
relationships and 19% said Facebook ends them
82% said that texting is one of the top two ways to end a relationship
(Gowen,2014, pg.1)
connectsafely.org/teens-social-medias-impact-relationships-survey/