Relationship Standards and Relationship Satisfaction

Previous research has shown that social media addiction and relationship satisfaction are negatively correlated. Research has also demonstrated that media illiteracy is positively associated with unrealistic relationship expectations. However, much of this work focuses on earlier forms of social media that are less prevalent among younger populations today. Short-form content platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok have become the dominant form of media consumption among teens and young adults. Women, in particular, are frequently exposed to relationship-focused content that promotes narratives such as "princess treatment," which may reinforce idealized or unrealistic standards for romantic relationships. The present study examined whether exposure to short-form relationship content on social media influences relationship satisfaction among female college students. Participants were college-aged women currently in heterosexual relationships who were asked to complete the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI) before and after exposure to relationship-related social media content. Contrary to the original hypothesis, results indicated that exposure to this content did not significantly affect relationship satisfaction scores. These findings suggest that while relationship-focused content is widely consumed, short-term exposure to such media may not directly influence perceived relationship satisfaction. Further research is needed to examine whether longer-term exposure or other factors, such as individual media literacy or pre-existing relationship expectations, may play a larger role in shaping relationship outcomes.