A new study has revealed that social media is one of the main reasons for many Britons getting a divorce. According to research carried out by Slater and Gordon social media presents a “minefield” for married couples.
The study revealed that one in just under 50% of all couples admitted to secretly checking their partners Facebook, Twitter or social media account without them knowing, with one in five going on to argue about what they found as a result of secretly checking their social media account.
In total, nearly 25% of those surveyed admitted that they had an argument every week as a result of social media, with 17% stating that it was a daily occurrence. One in seven even admitted that some social media habits had become so bad; divorce was often contemplated.
The vast majority of those that looked or monitored their partners social media account stated that the main reason for looking was to keep tabs on their loved one and to see who they were talking to. Worryingly, however, 14% of all respondents admitted that they had specifically looked for signs of infidelity through social media accounts.
Social Media And Divorces
The survey was conducted by family law solicitors who stated that they had seen an increase in the number of divorces caused by social media with more couples than ever citing social media practices and behaviours as a result of divorce.
Andrew Newbury, head of family law at Slater and Gordon, the firm responsible for the the report said: "Social media can be a wonderful way of keeping in touch with family and friends, but it can also put added strain on a relationship.
"Five years ago Facebook was rarely mentioned in the context of a marriage ending, but now it has become common place for clients to cite social media use, or something they discovered on social media, as a reason for divorce.
"With more than 556 million people using Facebook each day, the way we live our lives, and our marriages, has drastically changed. We are finding that social media is the new marriage minefield.”
He added: "Social media, specifically pictures and posts on Facebook, are now being routinely raised in the course of divorce proceedings.
"It wasn't just what their partner was doing on social media but also how long they spent on it that was likely to cause marital problems with Facebook usage topping the list of reasons couples argued over social media.
"Social media can also make a divorce more difficult. Divorce is already a stressful time for everyone involved and what is being posted on Facebook can antagonise families and make a speedy resolution more difficult to achieve.
Social Media Issues
Of the numerous habits that were cited as a catalyst for arguments was posting inappropriate pictures online as well as sending secret messages. One in ten admitted, they hid images from their partner with 8% having secret social media accounts.
40% of all respondents admitted that they found something that they did not know about their partner through social media, with 20% stating that they felt unassured by what they discovered on social media.
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