While Facebook has become such an integral part of our online society, the popular social network has had a number of unforeseen influences on our daily lives. One such surprising influence has been an increase in the number of divorces amongst regular users. A study conducted by the scholarly journal Computers in Human Behavior noted that while it is not clear whether or not Facebook is at fault for this increase, the data is present to support that it is involved.

CONFIRMED BY ATTORNEYS

This study is not the first of its kind. The New York Daily News noted in 2009 that one in five divorce cases were citing Facebook as an issue. One year lawyer, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers stated that there had been an 81% rise in social media being involved in divorce cases. And a further study conducted in 2011 at the University of Texas at Austin found that 32% heavy social media users surveyed said they had seriously thought about leaving their spouses, twice as much as those who did not use social networks.

WHY THE INCREASE?

There are a number of theories as to why Facebook may be involved in so many marriages, though none of them have been confirmed by scientific study yet. Facebook provides an outlet to connect to friends and other people who you may not be able to see, speak with, or meet on a regular basis. This can spark an interest that may make people unhappy with their current marital situation.

Facebook also provides people with an outlet of support not traditionally known, which may encourage someone who is unhappy with their marriage to end it (regardless of whether or not this is a rash decision). When there’s an added veil of privacy and one spouse may not know the extent of the other’s social media use, this can lead to tension and potentially a breaking point in a relationship.

WAYS TO AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA TENSION

For couples looking to avoid adding to these statistics, decreasing your social media use and spending more time with your spouse can be a great way to ensure a marriage stays strong. However, ensuring the trust in a relationship remains strong is something that couples must all determine for themselves.

If you need assistance with a divorce case, a Columbus divorce lawyer from Weis Law Group may be able to assist you. We are proud of our accolades, which include a perfect 10.0 Superb rating from Avvo, recognition from Super Lawyers, and Board Certification by the Ohio State Bar Association.

Call Weis Law Group today at (614) 732-5566 and schedule your initial consultation with our lawyers today!

Additional Sources: http://wtop.com/news/2014/07/study-facebook-affects-divorce-rates-marital-satisfaction/