Virtual relationships in social media: absence of gating

Question 1

McKenna and Bargh

Answer 1

• absence of gating is an advantage
• relationships can develop to the point where self-disclosure becomes more frequent and deeper
• absence of gating can allow online relationships to ‘get off the ground’
• less advantaged people are allowed to enter relationships

Question 2

Bargh et al

Answer 2

• intimacy developed quicker in virtual relationships compared to physical relationships because of a lack of gating features