By The Law Offices of Ronald H. Kauffman of Ronald H. Kauffman, P.A. posted in Divorce on Sunday, February 8, 2015.
Facebook has revolutionized the way we form and keep relationships. However, Facebook envy could actually ruin a relationship and lead to divorce. This is especially true for new marriages, and new research may prove it. There is no doubt Facebook evidence pops up in more trials.
Facebook users were asked to describe how often they used Facebook and how conflict arose as a result of Facebook use. The results found high levels of Facebook use significantly predicted Facebook-related conflict, which then significantly predicted cheating, breakups, and divorce.
“Previous research has shown that the more a person in a romantic relationship uses Facebook, the more likely they are to monitor their partner’s Facebook activity more stringently, which can lead to feelings of jealousy”.
The study also found that excessive Facebook users are more likely to connect or reconnect with other Facebook users, including previous partners, which may lead to emotional and physical cheating.
“These findings held only for couples who had been in relationships of three years or less“. “This suggests that Facebook may be a threat to relationships that are not fully matured. On the other hand, participants who have been in relationships for longer than three years may not use Facebook as often, or may have more matured relationships, and therefore Facebook use may not be a threat or concern.
I recently published an article about Facebook evidence and divorce. I wrote about the benefits and obstacles in gathering and using Facebook evidence at trial.
After all, the evidence can be very helpful:
Husband . . . [posts] his single, childless status while seeking primary custody of said nonexistent children.
Mom denies in court that she smokes marijuana but posts partying, pot-smoking photos of herself on Facebook
Remember, the next time you log in, what you do in the digital world could have a very impact in the real world.
The University of Missouri study can be read here.