A new survey has suggested that a spouse’s behaviour on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, WhatsApp and Snapchat could lead to serious problems with their partners – even triggering divorce in some cases.
Arguments relating to social media use
In the survey of 2,000 married British people, a surprising 1 in 7 people said that they would consider a divorce because of how their partner behaved online, with a further 1 in 4 saying that had at least one argument a week related to use of social media sites. More worryingly, 17% of those surveyed said that they argued every day about their partner’s use of social media.
What are couples arguing about?
Although the figures from Slater and Gordon survey do seem alarming, it’s also worth considering that many arguments arising from social media use are relatively minor. For example, a couple could argue about one spouse ‘liking’ a picture posted by an ex-partner, or spending a bit too much time checking new updates when they should be spending time with the family
However, these situations can soon escalate into serious disagreements, which can cause a major breakdown in the relationship. It is all too easy to chat, flirt and even conduct affairs through social media, and do so privately – a partner discovering that the reason their spouse spends hours on Facebook is to send flirtatious messages back and forth with another person can lead to talk about separation in a matter of minutes. The main issue under scrutiny is trust – and with the survey finding that 58% of people know their spouse’s passwords, even without their knowledge – it’s clear that social media use can soon turn into a thorny issue in a relationship.
U.S. divorce lawyers making use of social networking evidence
Another study over in the U.S, carried out by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, found that a massive 81% of divorce lawyers said they used evidence from social media sites in their cases. Facebook appears to be the main source of information about a spouse’s online activity, with more than 65% saying they used the popular platform to comb for evidence.
Many people use social media sites because they believe them to be relatively anonymous, as you can send private messages instantly, but information about a person’s online behaviour is readily available if you know where to look. If the wrong person starts digging, it could cause issues in your work life as well as your relationship.
Has social media use caused problems in your marriage? Please feel free to share your experiences.
If you need advice on any aspect of the divorce process, get the best professional help available from the friendly team at Tracey Miller, divorce and family law specialist.