Where love once bloomed through face-to-face conversations, shared experiences, and a handful of phone calls, it now unfolds through likes, follows, unread messages, and cryptic story views. Social media has taken its seat at the table of our relationships, commenting on everything from how we flirt to how we fight.
To understand how modern relationships truly fare in the age of likes, follows, and constant scrolling, we surveyed 1,000 Americans on how social media has shaped their dating, fighting, trust, and breakup experiences.
What we found was clear: romance today is affected by how we interact on social media.
Key Findings:
- Four in five people (80.5%) say that relationship advice on social platforms has raised their expectations of a partner.
- Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65.8%) believe a casual “like” can count as flirting.
- Almost three in four (73.4%) have argued with a partner over social media posts.
- More than three in five (63.4%) admit that a relationship has ended because of online behavior.
Social Media has Raised the Bar on What People Expect in Love
Romantic expectations were once shaped by movies, books, and the relationships we watched growing up. Today, they’re increasingly formed by Instagram reels, TikTok dating coaches, and #couplegoals. Whether we want to admit it or not, romance now comes with side-by-side comparisons: your real-life relationship vs. everyone else’s highlight reel.
According to our survey, 80.5% of people say that relationship advice and content on social media has impacted what they expect from a partner. That’s four out of five people looking at their feed, and then back at their relationship, and wanting more.
Expectations around communication also reflect this shift. While 21.6% believe social media significantly improves how they communicate with their partner, 18% say it has actually made things worse. Interestingly, men were more likely to say that social media has improved communication in their relationships, with 71.8% saying so, compared to just 44.9% of women feeling the same way.
The New Rules of Online Loyalty
Trust isn’t just built on words alone anymore. It’s built (and sometimes broken) on likes, follows, and posts online. For many couples, what happens online is just as significant as what happens IRL.
We found a surprising 65.8% of people believe that liking someone else’s post counts as flirting. And 78% of people admit to comparing their relationships to those they see on social media. It might be scrolling through those curated proposals and professional couple shoots and wondering why their date night photos don’t look as dreamy.
Checking in on a partner’s social activity has become second nature for many nowadays. 29.2% of respondents look at their partner’s online behavior 3 to 5 times per week, and nearly 1 in 10 (9.2%) admit to checking 10+ times weekly.
Whether it’s out of curiosity or anxiety, the feed has become a new form of emotional tracking.
How Social Media Sparks Real-World Conflict
A scroll through social media might be harmless… until it’s not. What might start as a comment or post can quickly spiral into suspicion, arguments, or even breakups.
Our survey found that 73.4% of people have argued with a partner about something on social media. Whether it’s a lack of posts about the relationship or attention given to others, the online version of relationships frequently sparks real-life tension.
In fact, 73.3% said they’ve been offended when their partner didn’t post about them, and 70% have felt jealousy over their partner’s interactions online. Loyalty gets questioned, feelings get hurt, and in 63.4% of cases, relationships end altogether due to social media behavior.
Even among those engaged, 63% said they feel offended when their partner doesn’t post about them.
And when it comes to moving on? 52% of women admit to blocking their ex’s posts after the breakup.
Beyond Romance: Why Messaging Matters More Than Ever
What happens in the DMs doesn’t always stay in the DMs. Our data tells a story of blurred boundaries, where the online and offline merge in unpredictable, emotional ways.
At Manychat, we help brands and creators communicate with real people. People who want honesty, empathy, and connection, not just algorithm-optimized content. The key to loyalty in any relationship is respect, communication, and clarity.
Whether you’re a creator or a brand, how you show up online determines the relationships and reputation you build. In a world where a single message can spark conflict or comfort, it’s never been more important to communicate with intention.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,000 people across the U.S. about how social media has impacted their relationships. Given the self-reported nature of surveys, respondents may have biases and discrepancies between their answers and their actual experiences.
Fair Use Statement
Now that you see how social media may be affecting relationships, we’d love for you to share this data. All we ask is that you attribute Manychat for the data and link back to this page for full access to the findings!
