Relational and Masspersonal Maintenance: Romantic Partners' Use of Social Network Websites

As social network websites (SNSs) occupy the intersection of both interpersonal and mass media communication, the current research examined how public, private, and "masspersonal" features of SNSs affect relational maintenance between romantic couples. In Study 1, a survey of 309 Facebook users revealed that increases in dyadic public and private maintenance, and network maintenance communication were associated with greater feelings of presence and satisfaction. However, public and private dyadic maintenance had opposite relationships with partner uncertainty. To further examine these patterns, Study 2 employed an in-depth content analysis of maintenance messages. Results from a sample of 94 Facebook users' maintenance messages indicated that selection of public and private SNS channels varied with respect to the valence and intimacy of the message.