TL;DR: Disappearing stories, views, and likes allow people to express jealousy or resentment without directly addressing the source. Social media algorithms push emotionally charged content, and indirect communication feels valid and safe.ย
As of February 2025, there were 5.56 billion internet users worldwide, accounting for 67.9% of the population. Around 64% of this total, or 5.24 billion, also used social media. Social media networks allow couples to share moments, stay in touch, and experience a sense of togetherness regardless of distance.
They can also encourage unhealthy behavior. Performative relationships or oversharing can lead to tension or anxiety, with people feeling pressured to demonstrate the "perfect" relationship. A social media user might feel uncomfortable seeing comments from or photos of their ex or their partner's ex, even if that connection is history. Studies show that over a third (35%) of people admit to feeling jealous of their partner's online interactions, potentially deepening insecurities that would have been less pronounced without a digital enabler.ย ย ย
Social media platforms are designed to reward indirect communication, making them fertile ground for passive aggression in modern relationships. Features like vague status updates, curated photo dumps, disappearing stories, and the use of views or likes allow people to express jealousy or resentment without directly addressing the source. In lieu of being direct, current and former couples may resort to vague statements, song lyrics, or soft blocking, using social media platform architecture to send passive-aggressive messages.ย
Further augmenting social media's impact on relationships is the blurred line between public and private space. Social media algorithms push emotionally charged content, while posts' performative nature makes users more likely to post for a specific person under the guise of "just sharing." Indirect communication feels safe and even validated in this environment. Social media have become a digital battleground where intimacy is strained by deafening silence, being left on read, and strategically timed online appearances.ย
A study found a moderate and positive relationship between aggression and social media addiction. The level of addiction varied according to participants' online shopping status and education level but did not change according to employment status or gender. On the other hand, the level of aggression did not differ according to online shopping status, education level, and employment status, only based on gender.ย
Research from the University of Michigan reveals that around 210 million people across the globe suffer from internet and social media addiction. In the US, it's estimated that 10% of the population is addicted to social media, or 33.19 million people.
Passive-aggressive actions eventually move offline if they already haven't. They can range from small things like making excuses for breaking a promise to sabotaging someone's success. Chronically passive-aggressive individuals tend to be uncomfortable and unreasonable to deal with, rarely express direct hostility, and repeat their manipulative behavior over time. The silent treatment, saying "yes" to avoid conflict, and saying "I can't" while meaning "I won't" are typical forms of passive-aggressive behavior.
An individual attracts people with a mentality close to theirs at any given time. The more effort they make to better themselves, the likelier they become to build a healthy relationship, which a relationship with a passive-aggressive person cannot be.ย
Setting boundaries is key. It's about making what you want and don't want in your relationships clear,โฏlike someone disrespectingโฏyour time alone. YouGov polled Americans on their views on boundaries in relationships and found that 36% considered it appropriate for someone to ask a partner to change their behavior according to their boundaries. However, 42% said you could not set boundaries on your partner's behavior, only on your own. The difference was relatively minor for people currently in romantic relationships: 41% vs 43%.
