The relationship between Facebook use and divorce rates

In a prior post, we warned our readers about the problems that social media can create (and make worse) during a divorce or child custody proceedings. While we want to remind our readers of the issues that can come about, we have also found that there is new scientific information suggesting that social media (particularly Facebook) could actually lead to marital problems.

The study, was recently published in the online journal “Computers in Human Behavior,” attempted to understand human behavior as affected by mobile communication applications. Researchers looked at divorce rates across 43 states and the number of Facebook accounts in each state. Essentially, they found that for every 20 percent increase in Facebook users, there was a 2.18 percent growth in the divorce rate. More importantly, the correlation rate remained constant.

While these findings cannot be interpreted as a direct effect of having a Facebook account, it is a showing that those who have marital problems or custody issues could fall prey to the ills that come with social media rants. With that said, it is best that people experiencing these issues should keep them off Facebook. The Miranda rights warning that comes with arrests holds true when it comes to social media “what you say can be used against you in a court of law.”

Basically, if you disparage or threaten your spouse or significant other, chances are that these statements will be revealed to a custody evaluator (if one is appointed) and possibly to a family court judge. You should know that this also applies to pictures posted on the Internet.

Source: Scienceblog.com “ Could Facebook use end a marriage,” June 2, 2014