How Can Social Media Impact a Marriage?

 Posted on September 13, 2016 in Divorce

Social media is great, but sites like Facebook and Instagram do have their downsides. Social media impacts marriages and divorce in a number of ways. In fact, according to a 2010 survey from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, over 80 percent of divorce lawyers reported seeing an increase of social media sources being present in divorce cases. How exactly does social media impact marriages? Here are just a few ways social media can harm your marriage and potentially lead to divorce.

Hidden Conversations

It is important to be honest and open with your spouse about your social networking activities. Having an active Facebook page, for example, is totally normal. Having secret conversations with a past romantic partner on Facebook, however, crosses a line that may impact your marriage. Even if nothing is going on, the secrecy can damage your relationship. Great marriages are built on trust, so it is important that any social media activity does not damage the trust in your relationship.

Too Much Screen Time

Social media can be addicting. Couples need to set their devices down from time to time and check in with each other. Do you lay in bed at night looking at your phones instead of catching up with each other? Occasionally, that is fine, but if your social media activity gets in the way of maintaining a relationship with your spouse, things have to change. Do not miss important conversations, intimate moments, and other events in your marriage simply because you are checking your Instagram. If you do, you may be in trouble.

Everyone Else Has Issues Too

Scrolling through Facebook, it can be easy to think that your friends’ lives look better than yours. Watching other happily married couples may make you feel insecure about your marriage. Avoid comparing your relationship to anyone else’s. Just because your friend posted a cute picture of her and her husband does not mean they do not have problems too. Everyone has issues to deal with, and how we appear on social media does not really reflect our lives. Instead of being insecure about your own relationship, slow down the social media usage and work on strengthening your relationship. Otherwise, while you were fantasizing about the perfect marriage, your perfectly normal and happy relationship may start to crumble.

Oversharing

Social media sites are no place to vent your marital problems. Details about your relationship are private and should be kept that way. If you reveal secrets and details about your marriage online, you may harm the trust between you and your spouse. Venting is healthy, but venting on Facebook, where your thoughts and opinions may be easily seen by virtually anyone, should be avoided.

Quality Divorce Support

Are you considering divorce? The qualified team of DuPage county divorce attorneys at Pesce Law Group, P.C., are available today to help you through the process. Call 630-352-2240 to set up a free first consultation with us to review your case and learn more about your options.

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/6-ways-social-media-can-tank-a-marriage-according-to-divorce-lawyers_us_57c077d7e4b02673444fe6d7