Carmen, a 25-year old intern in New York, changed her Facebook status from “Committed” to “It’s Complicated”.
Maybe she shouldn’t have done that. Within moments, Justin, her newly minted ex, posted on her Facebook, “Bitch, it’s not complicated. I caught you screwing too many other guys.”
Not everyone has been over-the-top in their status updates like Carmen. Too many have allowed Facebook, and other social media, mess up an otherwise good relationship.
About one in seven people have gotten fed up with their spouses’ activity on social media to the point they have thought about divorce.
Roughly 25 percent of people in a poll by Slater and Gordon say they have had at least an argument a week related to Facebook, Skype, Twitter or another social media outlet. Seventeen percent of the people in the poll confessed to fighting daily about the issue.
Also of interest: 58% of those polled say they knew their partner’s passwords.
The most common reason for checking out their spouse’s social media accounts was the intention of finding out who their partner was speaking with, to keep tabs on them and to find out if their partner was on the level when it came to their social life.
Andrew Newbury, director of family law at Slater and Gordon, said, “Social media can be an excellent means of remaining in touch with family and friends, but it also can put tension on a relationship.”
Five years ago, Facebook was seldom discussed in a divorce. Now, it has become commonplace for clients to point to social media, or something discovered on social media, as their reason for divorce.
Arguments were also created because of contact with an ex-spouse, sending secret messages as well as posting inappropriate photos.
Ten percent admitted they hid images and posts from their partner while 80 % admitted to having, at least, one, hidden, social media account.
Twenty-percent of the people claimed to feel uneasy about their current relationship after finding something on their spouse’s Facebook. Almost have confronted their spouse, but 40% took some time before they raised the issue.
Tips
Don’t Post in Anger
Your post is going to be seen by all of your family and friends as well as millions of others. It’s too late to delete the post; the damage has been done.
Respect
Be respectful. Don’t complain about your spouse, or other family members, online.
Transparency
Check with your partner before posting any images or information.
Privacy
Double check your privacy settings. You may thing someone can’t see a post, and be wrong.
Enjoy
Take a break and just enjoy the moment. Everything doesn’t need to be posted on social media.
Social media can be a great tool for business as well as a means of staying in touch with family and friends. It can be a rattlesnake if it is misused. Use wisdom or you may be discussing your Facebook postings with a divorce lawyer.