Social Media Boundaries in Indian Marital Relationships: Exploring the Dynamics of Blocking and Unfriending Spouses on Facebook

Abstract

Internet addiction, as noted by K. S. Young (2009), affects individuals who spend extended periods using the internet for socialization and sharing personal details. This addiction can lead to a lack of presentation in romantic relationships, childcare, family, friendship, and work. Online friends can become secret romantic partners due to the anonymity provided by the medium. Additionally, online affairs may negatively impact marriage quality, as dependents emotionally and socially draw from their marriage and romantic life to continue their online affairs. This study investigates blocking and unfriending behaviours on Facebook in marital relationships, focusing on privacy and boundaries management through in-depth interviews of married couples N=20. Factors like trust issues, conflicts, privacy concerns, and boundary regulation influence these behaviours. Understanding social media's role in shaping intimate connections can help develop healthy digital interactions.