Abstract

Young people today grow up in a social landscape in which digital technology and social media are ubiquitous in daily life and interpersonal relations, including intimate (romantic and sexual) relationships. This study sought to study Filipino young people’s relationship motivations and contexts in the digital age. We found that digital technology and social media are transforming the way Filipino young people approach and behave in intimate relationships. Digital technology and social media are making it easier for young people to engage in social comparison with their peers and role models, expanding possibilities for social interaction, facilitating rapid relationship progression, and enabling digital togetherness and self-expression in a context where conservative religious and sociocultural norms and sexual double standards remain dominant. This social environment brings opportunities to engage in relationships in new ways but also exposure to risks that may lead to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Our findings underscore the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in schools and at home, and highlight the need for critical dialogue about the social norms and stereotypes that perpetuate gender-based violence and inequality in online and offline spaces.

摘要

今天的年轻人成长在这样一个社会环境中，数字技术和社交媒体在日常生活和人际关系中无处不在，包括亲密（浪漫和性）关系。本研究旨在研究菲律宾年轻人在数字时代的关系动机和背景。我们发现，数字技术和社交媒体正在改变菲律宾年轻人在亲密关系中的相处方式和行为方式。数字技术和社交媒体使年轻人更容易与同龄人和榜样进行社会比较，扩大社交互动的可能性，促进关系的快速发展，并在保守的宗教和宗教背景下实现数字团结和自我表达社会文化规范和性别双重标准仍然占主导地位。这种社会环境带来了以新方式建立关系的机会，但也带来了可能导致不良性健康和生殖健康结果的风险。我们的研究结果强调了在学校和家庭进行全面性教育的重要性，并强调需要就使在线和离线空间中基于性别的暴力和不平等现象长期存在的社会规范和刻板印象进行批判性对话。