Whether you want to believe it or not, social media affects the way we live.
Most notably, Facebook has defined the way many of us communicate. The site launched in February 2004 for college students and opened up to everyone two and a half years later.
The use of Facebook and other social media is changing almost everything we do, including our relationships. The company says nearly 500 billion people worldwide have an account. That's about1 in every 13 people.
While Facebook can help you connect with friends you haven't seen in awhile, it can also affect relationsips with those you're closest to.
“Well I think communication is definitely really important,” said Madde Mernin.
Madde and Brett Mernin are newlyweds who met in college, but they didn't get to know each other like most couples do.
“When we first started dating we were both studying abroad so we actually used Facebook quite a bit to stay in touch with one another because we didn't have the luxury of cell phones or anything like that,” said Madde Mernin.
Instead of having dates consisting of dinner and a movie, Madde and Brett used a keyboard and mouse to learn more about each other.
“It was a lot of kind of get to know you stuff that we did on Facebook so a lot of understanding your history your past what you like what you don't like a lot of basic questions at the beginning,” said Brett Mernin.
Now that the couple is married the Mernin's still use Facebook to keep in touch with each other.
“Mentioning each other in our statuses or sending each other little messages throughout the day just really simple but it's a way we can keep in touch,” said Madde Mernin.
With the simple use of a computer or phone, Madde and Brett can virtually be in each other's lives 24-7.
“I think it definitely strengthens our relationship it's just like a little thing but it kind of keeps us connected makes us closer together makes us feel like we're not so far apart during the day,” said Madde Mernin.
It’s all possible through a web site that has arguably changed the lives of millions of people. Facebook. The most visited web site in 2010 has been in the spotlight lately. It's founder Mark Zuckerberg was Time Magazine's Person of the Year, and the critically acclaimed film "The Social Network" tells the story of the site's creation.
“Without communication you actually don't have a relationship,” said Dr. Carol Bruess, professor of communication and family studies.
Bruess is a professor at the University of St. Thomas. She's also co-author of the book, "What Happy Couples Do."
“New communication technologies seem to be enhancing those relationships they're giving us more opportunities to stay in touch easier ways to touch base during the day,” said Bruess.
While social media does have positives, it can also cause some problems.
“Sometimes those messages are seen by people we don't want to see them they're very public and they're also very permanent,” said Bruess.
Those negative effects are especially present when the relationship doesn't last. Family counselors and divorce lawyers report Facebook as a growing source of conflict in relationships.
With the ability for social media conversations to be saved, Bruess says it's best to think about what you say online before you say it.
“Once I put it out there if I’m not willing to have that read by anyone maybe I should reconsider whether I should actually put it out there,” said Bruess.
So whether you're a hopeless romantic or a new aged social media cupid, remember technology was created to make our lives easier, but it could end up complicating things if you're not careful.
“Social networking only goes so far for us because we still need to hear her voice and definitely didn't marry a computer I married a woman which I’m very happy about,” said Brett Mernin.
Madde and Brett say as great as Facebook is to communicate with each other they still need to unplug at the end of the day and have a face to face conversation with no technology involved.
Bruess says along with all the benefits of social media in relationships, it can force us to miss out on making new relationships. As we're busy typing or texting on our computer or phone we may miss the chance to have a conversation with someone sitting right next to us.
