Is my partner watching thirst traps? Associations between perceptions of a partner’s TikTok alternatives and relationship quality

Social media plays an important role in the maintenance of close relationships, especially in today’s age of technology. However, social media platforms can also threaten existing romantic relationships by using algorithms to expose committed people to attractive and desirable alternatives. The current study focused on TikTok as one platform that may amplify alternative threats through viewing thirst traps on one’s For You Page (FYP). Sixty-five dyads completed an online correlational survey including measures for both their own and perceptions of the partner’s evaluations of TikTok alternatives. Actor Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM) was used to examine how the partner’s perceived interactions with TikTok alternatives were associated with relationship quality (trust and satisfaction) and if this association was moderated by perceived partner commitment. Additionally, a partner actively interacting with TikTok alternatives was negatively associated with relationship quality, and this effect was exacerbated when the alternative was perceived as dissimilar to the actor. These results have implications for understanding the impact of algorithmically-induced threats on romantic relationship stability and romantic relationship maintenance on the popular TikTok platform.