3.5: Virtual relationships in social media

Question 1

Manon is shy and not confident in social situations. This and the fact that she is not considered physically attractive has prevented her from ever having an intimate face-to-face romantic relationship. Recently though she met Doug online and easily felt able to disclose honest personal information about herself, resulting in an intimate, meaningful relationship quickly developing.
Refer to features of the situation above to explain the effects an absence of gating has upon the nature of virtual relationships (3 marks)

Answer 1

Virtual relationships are not subject to the limiting factors that face to face relationships often are. Therefore, Manon’s lack of physical attractiveness is not a feature of her virtual relationship with Doug, as it might be if it was a face to face relationship

Question 2

Manon is shy and not confident in social situations. This and the fact that she is not considered physically attractive has prevented her from ever having an intimate face-to-face romantic relationship. Recently though she met Doug online and easily felt able to disclose honest personal information about herself, resulting in an intimate, meaningful relationship quickly developing.
Refer to features of the situation above to explain the effects an absence of gating has upon the nature of virtual relationships (3 marks).
Virtual relationships are not subject to the limiting factors that face to face relationships often are. Therefore, Manon’s lack of physical attractiveness is not a feature of her virtual relationship with Doug, as it might be if it was a face to face relationship.

Answer 2

Individuals like Manon who are shy and lack confidence find it much more difficult to self-disclose intimate details about themselves in face to face relationships than in virtual relationships.
Therefore, Manon feels more able to self-disclose to Doug in their virtual relationship, which results in an intimate, meaningful relationship quickly developing