Technology has revolutionized the thoughts and actions of persons in so many ways. It has led to a number of changes in the behavior and attitudes of persons of all ages in the society. But, the biggest challenge has come by way of the social media websites and the impact that these medium have had on the lives of students on the younger generation. Facebook is one such medium that has revolutionized the actions and attitudes of many young persons in the society. Facebook offers a number of positive uses for its uses, but there are negative ramifications for many of the users on this social media website. The increase in the popularity of the social networking affects the relationship of many persons some Facebook users often stalk each other during their relationship and even after the relationship has broken off. Despite the positive outcomes of building relationships with people around the world, cyber obsessional pursuits and obsessive relational intrusion on Facebook have contributed to the harassment of ex-partners.
Cyber obsessional pursuits and obsessive relational intrusion are dangerous behaviors and whether it is intense or mild, both actions will set the foundation for future psychotic behaviors. Amy Lyndon et al suggest that despite the numerous warnings of the dangers of Facebook, many college students continue to suffer from cyberstalking and cyber obsession pursuits (Lyndon et al 2011). Facebook can be one of the main avenues for jealousy and anxiety as persons stalk the profiles and activities of their partners. Such behavior leads to suspicion, jealousy, and uncertainty as ex-partners become fearful of their lives. Lyndon argues that some “young adults frequently engage in stalking behaviors” (Lyndon et al 2011:711), but that these behaviors are not legally “severe enough to induce fear in victims to become stalking (Lyndon et al 2011). The truth is that the operational definition of stalking and the technicality of the legal definition of stalking can begin to justify the fear that one feels knowing that their ex-partners are constantly watching every move and action. The fears also arise from the fact that many ex-partners use these sites to create embarrassing situations as ex-partners can intimidate others by turning personal arguments information into public arguments and draw comments from malicious users on the sites.
Persons who are in love and have lost their love are likely to be hurt especially if the partner has moved on with another person. As a result, these persons continue to find different ways to access their ex-partner’s daily activities on these websites. Kasey Chaulk and Tim Jones reiterate the views that there are little known cases of criminal stalking behavior on Facebook (Chaulk & Jones 2011). Nevertheless, Facebook provides the avenue for much anxiety and jealousy. The information that persons share on this social media website goes across different mediums and persons find that close friends have other close friends and this leads to their ex-partners having access to the information that is shared. Even more is the ex-partner who creates pseudonyms to gain access the ex-partner’s profile. Arguably, Facebook is not responsible for obsessive behavioral patterns, but it is the vehicle that drives jealous behaviors in ex-partners who cannot cope with the absence of the persons that they love. Chaulk and Jones opine that there is little empirical data to help with the understanding of the consequences and use of social networking sites (Chaulk & Jones 2011), but users of Facebook do not need studies or data to realize that many ex-partners become obsessive with their ex-partners right after the relationship ends. Furthermore, Facebook allows persons to convey threatening or intimidating messages in an effort to further control the lives of ex-partners.
The harsh reality is that Facebook allows for intrusions and forms the framework for jealousy in a number of relationships. Rachel Elphinston argues that the increase in the use of social networking sites such as Facebook creates the potential for making relationships complicated (Elphinston 2011). Additionally, the author concludes that Facebook may be adding to the complications in a number of relationships across the world (Elphinston 2011). Many critics on the subject however may argue that Facebook is merely a social media website and as such cannot cause problems in a relationship, but the truth is that the addictive attachment to Facebook allows person to want to share daily activities and this provides the openness for an increase in jealousy from ex-partners. In fact, the increase in the attachment to Facebook “interferes with the day-to-day activities and relationship functioning” (Elphinston & Noller 2011: 631) and can lead to “obsessive relational intrusive behaviors” (Chaulk & Jones 2011: 245). Ex-partners will change the names on their profiles to avoid the other party, but because there are common friends to each partner, there will always be access to personal information.
In concluding, Facebook and other social media websites were designed with the intention to connect friends around the world and to allow person to meet new friends and form strong relational ties. But, there is the growing concern that persons use Facebook to intrude on the lives of other persons and in particular ex-partners. In addition, Facebook allows persons to access the personal information of others and this can lead to obsessive behavioral patterns that can be likened to stalking. The repeated, invasion and unwanted pursuit of others can be psychologically damaging as persons will live in constant fear that others have access to personal information and can cause negative results in their lives. Despite the many efforts that persons take to add privacy to their Facebook accounts, the proverbial doors to accessing personal information on Facebook remains open. The only solution is to share only the basic information on these social media websites so that no one can gain access to personal information.
References
Chaulk, K. & Jones, T., (2011) Online Obsessive Relational Intrusion: Further Concerns About
Facebook, J Fam Viol (2001) 26: 245 – 254, DOI 10.1007/s10896-011-9360-x. Web
Elphinston, R. A. & Noller, P., (2011) Time to Face It! Facebook Intrusion and the Implications
for Romantic Jealousy and Relationship Satisfaction, Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, Original Articles, Volume 14, Number 11, 2011, DOI: 10.1089/cyber/2010.0318 Web
Lyndon, A., et al (2011) College Students’ Facebook Stalking of Ex-partners, Cyberpsychology,
Behavior and Social Networking, Volume 14, Number 12, 2011, DOI: 10,1089/cyber.2010.0588, Web
