Rieger (2017). Between surveillance and sexting. - Article summary

Connected presence refers to people always being online and connected to others. Online communication offers tools to generate relatedness when physical presence is not possible. Partner phubbing refers to the extent to which an individual uses or is distracted by one’s cell phone while in the company of the relationship partner. This could undermine relationship satisfaction, commitment, intimacy and closeness.

There are three important stages for relationships:

• The initiation or formation of the relationship.
• The maintenance of the relationship.
• The dissolution of the relationship.

In the first stage, the nature of the relationship is determined. One important goal of this stage is uncertainty reduction. This can be achieved through passive strategies (e.g. observation) (1), active strategies (e.g. talking to others) (2) and interactive strategies (e.g. talk with the person) (3).

Online communication has amplified the potential for dating partners to engage in communication employing any of the three strategies. Mobile devices ease the obstacles of first real contact and makes ongoing contact easier.

The perceived risk and costs of examining possible partners is also lower in online dating because rejection is nearly invisible. Online dating requires low effort and engagement, allowing to maintain contact with multiple partners.

Virtual relationships tend to be less intimate than face-to-face relationships. Online devices also opens ways to test strategies and experiment with ideas on how to get into contact and start a relationship and how to display affection and how to maintain high frequency contact. Electronic communication allows for greater control. The greater control leads to less anxiety in online contact.

The maintenance stage is characterized by strategic communication to ensure the continued existence and desired level of closeness in the relationship. There are several strategies of relationship maintenance:

• Engaging in positivity
  This refers to demonstrating hopefulness and optimism towards each other in interactions.
• Assurances
  This refers to signals used by partners to convey their affection, commitment and appreciation for each other.
• Openness
  This refers to directly discussing the nature of the relationship.
• Social networks
  This refers to the reliance on common friends and family for maintenance purposes (e.g. joint activities).

Communication among partners that is intensified through permanent or frequent online exchange contributes to positive outcomes. The quantity and quality of phone calls have positive effects on relationship commitment, love, relational certainty, partner idealization, relationship satisfaction and intimacy.

Couple-specific codes and patterns of online communication can strengthen the shared social identity of being part of a romantic partnership. This contributes to its stabilization and maintenance.

Sexting refers to sending and receiving sexually suggestive images, videos or texts via mobile devices. Online communication makes the sexual dimension of intimate relationships more accessible and relevant to both partners throughout the day and expands the space of opportunities to negotiate and enjoy sexual interaction beyond episodes of face-to-face contact.

Technoference refers to the usage of mobile devices which undermines positive interaction dynamics when partners spend time together. Online communication may lead to one partner receiving ambiguous information about their partners that would otherwise have remained inaccessible. This information can trigger negative emotions.

Visual information (e.g. seeing the partner with someone else) (1), partner communication (e.g. commenting on someone’s post) (2) and third-party communication (e.g. flirtatious comments on a post) (3) can cause relational uncertainty and negative emotions.

Mobile device usage can lead to partners expand or amplify problematic activities (e.g. excessive monitoring).

Mobile communication can be helpful with the dissolution of intimate relationships stage when the partner pursues an evacuation strategy; slowly reducing frequency and intensity of the contact. The negative effect of mobile communication is that it is difficult to realize offline and online separation (e.g. online connections have grown). Online communication may amplify emotional distress associated with relationship dissolution.

Attachment styles moderate the effects of mobile communication on romantic relationships. Online communication may lead to more distress for people who prefer self-reliance and prefer less intimacy as online communication provides more opportunities for communication. However, it could also hold positive effects as people with an avoidant attachment can employ text-messages rather than the confrontational face-to-face interaction.

Online communication can create a cycle of anxiety for anxiously attached individuals because the new forms of permanent connectedness provide the technological opportunities to monitor the partner as well as nurture relationship anxiety.