The UK media hailed Facebook a “marriage killer” last week after survey results suggested a high proportion of divorces occur due to activity on the social network.
Ever since Facebook became such a fundamental part of our online lives, people have been speculating about how it could be changing the way we interact with each other for better or worse. But are we really changing or have we just been given another way to communicate and behave like we always have?
Last week, the results from a survey by the American Academy of Matrimonal Lawyers were plastered all over UK tabloids. These results have allegedly revealed that one in five US divorces cite Facebook activity as a reason for separation. 80% of the divorce lawyers questioned have also reported a large spike in the number of cases that use conversations on social networks as evidence of infidelity.
Reports, surveys and findings that are damming of social networks surface every few months. But should we really be taking them seriously, or see them as nothing more than sensational stories based on a small sample of cases?
Two of the key elements of social media are keeping in contact with people you know as well as branching out to different networks. This will clearly have implications on the way relationships work, as a platform like Facebook is an ideal way to contact an old flame or meet someone new. Therefore it’s hardly surprising that some users end up cheating on their current partners and engaging in inappropriate conversations with others.
However, this is hardly changing the fabric of relationships and human behaviour that the media so often suggests. People have always cheated and always will, it now just takes place on a different platform. Of course access to more people and maybe those from your past could make it a little easier to cheat. However, social networks shouldn’t be branded as marriage killers and those that do stray shouldn’t be excused because they’re using a supposedly notorious platform.
Becca Caddy is a BitchBuzz Tech columnist and freelance writer for Reputation Online, New Media Age’s spin-off publication. You can follow her on Twitter @beccacaddy.
Image via jcoterhal's photostream.