Facebook Blamed for 1 in 5 US Divorce Cases: Report

Facebook fanatics are more than likely miserable with their personal lives, according to a recent report. Another report has surfaced, which now suggests that the statistics for married Facebook users are perhaps even more dismal, after the popular social network was cited in 1 out of every 5 divorce cases. The study is according to a new survey of American marriage lawyers.

The reason for the eventual separation is not because one spouse posts slanderous messages against another spouse. It's also not because of all of the other inequities that comes with "creeping" a partner's page. Rather, 80 per cent of those lawyers polled believe Facebook is now a popular option to begin an extramarital affair.

Old Flames Lead to New Problems

According to psychologist Steven Kimmons of the Loyola University Medical Center, people genuinely do not set up a Facebook account with the intention of cheating on their other half. Rather, the process is emotionally complex and culminates after a series of frequent interactions.

Kimmons described a typical situation as being "one spouse connecting online with someone they knew from high school. The person is emotionally available and they start to communicate through Facebook. Within a short amount of time, the sharing of personal stories can lead to a deepened sense of intimacy, which in turn can point the couple in the direction of physical contact." (Source: cbc.ca)

The biggest factor in not only the time it takes the extramarital affair to become physical, but also the possibility for one to even flourish -- often the result of how often an individual frequents the site. Kimmons contrasted the likelihood of two people conversing five times a week, compared to once a week, to strengthen his theory that an affair becomes the result of continual contact made between those parties involved.

"Stalking" Safeguard Presents Double-Edged Sword

He also went on to suggest ways an individual can protect themselves from having their spouse succumb to the temptations initiated by the social network, including sharing Facebook passwords to alleviate the 'secret' nature of a questionable relationship. (Source: yahoo.com)

Still, reverting back to a 'stalking' safeguard can lead to a person feeling as if their mate is being too overprotective, which is another factor in many divorce cases.