Boon and bane of couples
The gadgets and computers people love so much are starting to affect the dynamics of their relationships.
deViCe devotion – where a partner pays way too much attention to his or her phone – is a cause of conflict for more than half of couples polled, according to a Kaspersky lab study.
the study reveals 55% of people have argued because their partner spent too much time on a device – this figure is higher at 58% for couples that live together, compared to 49% for those who are dating but live separately.
Main causes of arguments include devices being used during a meal or face-to-face conversation (51%), misunderstanding over messages (45%) and communicating online with someone the other is jealous of (41%).
ironically, “likes” were found to cause dislikes – 41% of couples have argued when the partner likes another person’s posts or photos, and 34% because their partner did not like their post or photo.
“these same devices which help couples to secure their love when they are apart can also cause arguments when they are used irresponsibly,” said Kaspersky lab vice-president for product marketing dmitry aleshin.
Cybersecurity issues were also a cause of friction, with 24% of couples having argued after one person infected the device with malware and 19% argued after one partner lost money online by mistake or because of malware.
“By making a conscious effort to take care of their digital lives – including devices, accounts and online activities – and to not neglect their partners in the physical world, people can enjoy the many benefits that the digital world offers without upsetting their other half,” he added.
the study found that devices weren’t all doom and gloom for couples, as 53% of people say their relationship has improved since sharing their online activities, including accounts and devices.
the types of accounts commonly shared were shopping services (57%), video/audio streaming (55%), online banking (52%), instant messaging (43%), social media (41%) and e-mail (40%).
devices shared include computers (80%), tablets (72%), wearables (60%) and even smartphones (45%).
Messaging was also an important communication tool, with 80% of people using devices to stay in touch with their partner online when they were apart and 62% of people agreeing that communicating through devices helps them feel closer to their partner.
the study’s findings were based on an online survey conducted by research firm toluna and Kaspersky lab in January, which assessed the experiences of 18,000 respondents from 18 countries, who have been in a relationship for at least six months and are above 18 years old.
the data was weighted to be globally representative and consistent, split equally between men and women.