Introduction
Cyber Relationship is the connection and involvement we have with our computers, or something that is of virtual reality. In our context, Cyber Relationship refers to the commitment and social connection we have with the people we meet through Cyber platforms like Social Media platforms. Some examples of Social Media platforms that encourage Cyber Relationships are Facebook and Twitter. Internet Addiction refers to “an individual’s inability to control their Internet use, which in turn leads to feelings of distress and functional impairment of daily activities.” (Douglas, 3)
Why is Cyber Relationship Addiction in Singapore an important topic of interest? According to ...view middle of the document...
According to Mesch and Talmud, youths’ social choices are restricted with time and place. Most of them only get the chance to socialize in school, their neighborhood and in extra-curricular activities (63). In a Straits Times article published in 2012, it is stated that teenagers are forming romantic relationships online more often than before. (Tan, 1) They are said to have formed out of convenience and done for the sake of the lack of companionship (Tan, 1). Online relationships nowadays appear to be a vital part of youth culture (Mesch and Talmud, 64). With this, we can safely say that youth are the main targeted group with reference to our topic of interest. There are studies, which show that younger Internet users are more prone to turn into “Internet Addicts”, as compared to older aged Internet users (Douglas, 5). However, the extent of Cyber Relationship Addiction today is not only limited to our main target group.
With the wide possibilities and information available on the Internet today, it is easy for users to engage in cyber relationships that are deemed inappropriate while justifying their actions with methods available online (Douglas, 13). For example, online methods actually facilitate coaching components that help individuals to hide their online-based extra-marital affairs from their primary partners (Douglas, 13). With such a convenience, even individuals who are engaged in a committed relationship with their primary partners may seek cyber relationships as a form of extra-marital affair. In fact, there is a higher chance that they will choose to turn to cyber relationships as an option for extra-marital affairs than primary ones due to the convenience of hiding or justifying it. As such, Cyber Relationship Addiction does not only occur to single individuals, but also those involved in a committed relationship. This widens the extent of Cyber Relationship Addiction further as it affects primary relationships while also affecting a larger demographic at the same time.
Which demographics are usually affected by Cyber-Relationship Addiction?
As mentioned earlier, our main targeted group with relevance to our topic of interest, would be the teenagers and young adults of Singapore. However, we have also mentioned that they are not the only demographics being affected by Cyber Relationship Addiction. Cyber Relationship Addiction could affect adults as well, whether or not they are single or married.
There is much speculation that the youth today are the “Digital Generation”, being branded as “addicted surfers”(Livingstone, 2). This speculation makes them the main target of our topic of interest, Cyber Relationship Addiction. In fact, most people believe that Cyber Relationship Addiction only occurs to youth. Contrary to that belief, adults also contribute a major part to Cyber Relationship Addiction in Singapore today. According to Department of Statistics Singapore, 79 per cent of the males and 59 per cent of the females were...