COM2006 Week 5 Discussion

Relationships © 2014 South University

2 Relationships

Let’s learn about how social media and relationships are connected. Strategies for Developing Online Friendships

• Always be honest, truthful, and genuine.

• Be careful about what you disclose to whom.

• Search for social networking sites where community members have similar interests.

• If you are looking for more friends, search for people who know the friends you already have on your social media network.

• Start private chats or exchange e-mails so that you can get to know someone on a more personal level since most social media sites are too public for anything too personal.

• Share pictures, interests, and other things of interest to you.

• Communicate on a regular basis.

• Emphasize commonalities to establish rapport.

• Communicate support and caring. (Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006). Strategies for Developing an Online Romance

• Always be honest, truthful, and genuine.

• Be careful about what you disclose to whom.

• Look for reviews for online dating social media sites before you sign up.

• Share pictures, interests, and other things of interest to you.

• Communicate on a regular basis. The more you communicate, the greater the chance for intimacy.

• Keep conversations friendly and pleasant; avoid disclosing personal issues or problems until trust has been established.

• Disclose personal information only to the extent the other person has disclosed his or her personal information.

• Ask open questions to initiate and invite reciprocal conversations.

• Be careful not to form rigid expectations for initial conversations.

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©2014 South University

3 Relationships

• Seek information about the other person to reduce uncertainty and build trust.

• Communicate that you are confident, independent, and open minded.

• Communicate support and caring. (Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006).

Reference: Anderson, T. L., & Emmers-Sommer, T. M. (2006). Predictors of relationship satisfaction in online

romantic relationships. Communication Studies, 57(2), 153–172.

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©2014 South University