ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a state-of-the-art review of the literature on the uses and effects of communication technologies during the maintenance phase of romantic relationships. Communication technologies have profoundly affected romantic relationships at all three stages. For instance, online dating has revolutionized the relationship-initiation process. Similarly, social network sites (SNSs) can add an extra layer of difficulty to romantic break-ups by enabling people to monitor their ex-partners. The chapter discusses the role of communication technologies in the maintenance stage of romantic relationships. It focuses exclusively on geographically collocated romantic relationships, since long-distance relationships rely on communication technologies in a different way. While the focus is broadly on to include heterosexual and homosexual relationships along the continuum of commitment (from casual dating to marital relationships), the bulk of the literature has investigated heterosexual dating relationships, typically among college students.
