Bellevue Legal News: Seattle Divorce & Domestic Violence Lawyer

New Study Confirms Facebook A Factor In 20 Percent Of Divorces

You’ve probably read that Facebook and other social networking internet sites are increasingly responsible for broken marriages and divorces. But the newest study linking Facebook use and divorce has produced an utterly shocking statistic: roughly 20 percent of divorces in America now involve Facebook use.

Another study, conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), found that eight out of ten family law attorneys in the United States reported a significant increase in divorce cases that were caused by or involved a social networking site.

How can Facebook lead to divorce? In many cases, researchers say, a spouse will connect with an old friend or old love interest from high school or college. Soon, they will begin exchanging personal messages and perhaps find someone understanding and willing to listen. This could then turn into an emotional affair or in-person meetings. In other cases, a spouse could join a social networking website, or even a online dating site, and intentionally look for new people to meet and date.

A divorce that involves Facebook or other online activities also means a divorce in which solid evidence of a spouse’s infidelity or other inappropriate actions is available. From chats to status updates to tweets to pictures, a spouse’s online life can come back and harm them during the divorce process or child custody process.

How can you prevent Facebook from affecting your marriage? Talk to your spouse about what you find to be an acceptable amount of social networking and even share passwords with your husband or wife. Also, when reconnecting with old friends, be sure to check your own behavior and not engage in intimate conversation.

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