Love at a distance

: the influence of Facebook and Instagram on the quality of long-distance romantic relationships

Abstract

Long-distance romantic relationships, defined as relationships where partners live in distant locations, are becoming increasingly common. Existing literature suggests that the significance of geographic proximity in selecting partners may have diminished as societies rely on connections through online networks. Yet long-distance relationships remain an understudied phenomenon due to a widely shared view that such connections are prone to failure. As the number of individuals engaged in long-distance relationships remain on the rise, it is important to understand the patterns of online communication between partners in order to sustain such relationships and improve relational quality. Social media platforms are commonly used for communication purposes and continue to grow in popularity. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated that platforms such as Instagram or Facebook are broadly adopted by romantic partners and are utilized to sustain constant communication and make the relationship public. Consequently, this study explores the impact of Facebook and Instagram on the quality of long-distance relationships. Through in-depth interviews with nine individuals and nine couples currently involved in such relationships, the study identifies communication patterns among individuals in long-distance relationships, as well as positive and negative effects of social media usage. While challenges such as jealousy and technological distractions are noted, results suggest that Facebook and Instagram can improve relationship quality by supporting frequent and varied communication between partners.

Date of Award	23 Jun 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Jessica Roberts (Supervisor)