Consequences of Online Social Networks on the Life of Couples: A Qualitative Study Social Online Network Consequences

Couples’ relationships have been challenged due to the online social networks. In this interpretive inquiry, we explored couples’ perspectives toward implications of online social networks on marital life. This study was carried out in Zanjan, where individual indepth interviews were conducted on 20 participants who experienced marriage and presence in online social networks. The data were collected and recorded by semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Nvivo-Ver11 in Graneheim Lundman analysis approach. Data analysis led to extraction of 301 codes, 21 sub-categories, 6 categories and 2 themes including perceived positive outcomes of social media on couples’ lives including 2 subcategories as awareness context and availability, and perceived negative outcomes of presence in online social networks on couples’ lives including 4 sub-categories as affected relationship, hidden affair, threaten marital life, Individualized marital life. Expansion of social media, like any other technological developments, has positive and negative effects on marital life. Media literacy is a recommended approach to reducing the negative impact of being present in online social networks.