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Facebook blamed for growing divorces

Lawyer says 30 cases she handled involved site

IANS
Published: 00:00 January 23, 2011

London: The social networking website Facebook is being blamed for a growing number of divorces in Britain as married partners are caught cheating online.

A lawyer said how every divorce she had dealt with in the past nine months had involved the social networking website, according to The Sun.

Nowadays, even flirty messages and photos of new lovers after a split are being used by former spouses as "ammunition" in divorce proceedings.

Lawyers are advising couples to stop using Facebook and sites such as Second Life, Illicit Encounters and Friends Reunited until legal proceedings are finalised.

Emma Patel, of Hart Scales and Hodges Solicitors, in Surrey, has dealt with 30 divorces since May, and all involved Facebook.

What effect does Facebook have on relationships? Has it become a way for partners to check up on one another? Should messages and photos be allowed as evidence during divorce proceedngs? Tell us what you think by posting a comment below.

Comments (16)

Added 17:53 January 23, 2011

hey everyone i am nazneen. well according to me.... i dont blame facebook...!! i and emon are married sine 3 years.. we met on facebook... we fell in love on facebook... so i dont blame it on facebook.. that is all i want to say..!! LOVE YOU EMON..! YOU ARE THE BEST...!

nazneen, duabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:44 January 23, 2011

If a relationship can break off just by using a Website then just believe it that this relation was not meant4 u. There was nothing 4u to loose. Facebook is just a website that we have misused. It was supposed to be s socializing site, (meet,greet,reunite,etc etc) but it's the generation now that even the youngest billionaire can't stop his own activities on Facebook. Its just the way you make your priorities important. Its just the responsibilities that we have. Yes I agree that we feel bad on the comments and adding friends, but I think even u and I do the same then what is the difference. What matters is what is in your mind. So watch out and remember who is important to you when & where. Have a safe journey in life, it isn't so easy 2live as you have made it.

Zeena, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:14 January 23, 2011

i agree that face book is responsible for the growing number of divorces and breakups.as i am also a victim of this.

Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:49 January 23, 2011

Very well said "Added 12:15 January 23, 2011", I really like your comment. It really hurt and humiliating to see ur partner reaction while chatting and flirting online. This what makes me feel want to quit in a relationship.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:20 January 23, 2011

We supposed not to blame the Facebook pertaining to the cause of diivorce. This is a social network and everybody are welcome to use and to explore our world BUT with LIMITATIONS because this is a public site anybody could read or see your photos. We should learn the proper use of any social network. We are educated and well -equipped of knowledge on how to use it. Don't let the social network destroy our life. Let us remember, that we as human are more powerful than other living things. One thing more, the best advise i could give to any couple is to build LOVE and TRUST to your partner and give much more time to your partner and to your family rather than consuming your whole time in social networking..and that's not fair!

jonnell, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:10 January 23, 2011

i think F.B is something thats connecting old friends and family its up to you how you use its i know so many ppl who add so many unknow ppl i think thats the real problem.

ali danish, ajman, United Arab Emirates

Added 13:00 January 23, 2011

Many people wanted to express their feelings,Which for a long time they suppressed.Facebook is the flatform to express everybody's feelings..I believe that the main ingredient of a family life is understanding and adjustment,In many couples there is no understanding,only adjustments.Such couples will easily fall into the trap of bad people in FB..

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 12:15 January 23, 2011

As a matter of fact, what might bother your partner is not exactly you being in facebook, but the time you spend using it instead of being by her/his side. Many women complain that their husband never talks, laughs, or have the same smile on their face whit them as they have when they chat with somebody else. Sometimes you might not be cheating on your partner, but just the idea that you are giving more of u to somebody you don't know than to the one who lives with you, is humiliating and it might lead to divorce. The one who is chatting or spending time online will always deny that it could be considered "cheating". Obviously because he/she doesn't see how different he/she is acting when doing it. The one observing his/her reactions is analyzing it and comparing to his/her daily actions at home as a partner. There's a difference and we all know it. We also know that it hurts, creates conflicts, jealousy, and instead of accepting the facts and working together to solve it, we deny it and acuse eachother. Next step? Divorce! Some people can control it. Others not. The curiosity for what is behind the words leads us to forgeting the real partner we have in life. The illusion that puts that smile on our face when chatting to somebody we met online is bigger than the hug waiting for us by our side. Is Facebook or any other social network to be blamed for unsuccessful relationships? Ask some of your friends or yourself, what hurts more: to see your partner spending time online/working on the computer or his/her reactions when doing it? I am sure one hour working later and swearing at your computer wouldn't hurt you or your partner as much as 5 minutes of laughing and provocative smiles during a chat. I am divorced and facebook had nothing to do with that ;) It is a matter of behavior....no matter if it is online or in reality.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 11:51 January 23, 2011

Well, I agree that Facebook blame for growing divorces and break up for the relationships. I can say that because I have experience it and we broke-up our relationship with my boy friend just because only some comments and adding friends in facebook. Anyway, I'ved lost our relationship already can't do anything now, To all the readers beware of facebook comments, adding friends & so on.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 10:42 January 23, 2011

In short Facebook or other social media are putting impact on relationships. However there has always been matter of cheating between partners, and social media is another way to bring it in the knowledge of spouse. I have known people who used to check telephone bills, travel logs, SMS out boxes, email sent folders etc to check on spouse and social media have added another means of check on cheating spouse. But mainly it is not just divorce problems we are facing with social media, we are encountering identity theft, blackmailing and other cyber crimes. Authorities should probe usage of such social media, and investment firms pouring money into such companies should stop and think about it before promoting it further! Control should be in placed.

Adnan Ansari, Dubai, United Arab Emirates