Graysons Solicitors In The Press

Facebook sited in one third of divorces according to research

There is no doubt that Facebook has been responsible for the blossoming of many a relationship.  However, it looks like more and more of the romantic trysts that are set up over the ever popular social networking site are not what they should be, as recent research shows a significant increase in the reference to Facebook in divorce petitions.

In 2009 a survey of around 5000 divorce petitions showed that about 20% of them contained references to Facebook, but the same survey conducted in 2011 shows that this has now grown to 33%.

As in 2009, the 2011 survey indicated that the most common reasons for citing Facebook related to spouses’ behaviour, with the top 3 reasons being “inappropriate messages to members of the opposite sex”, “separated spouses posting nasty comments about each other” and “Facebook friends reporting spouse’s behaviour”.

Sandra Russell, partner in Grayons WE’s family department says “It is really not surprising to see an increase in Facebook fuelled divorces, given the huge popularity of the site, but it is sad to see that it has become such a battleground as well as a place for great social interaction.   Everyone should be discrete as to how they use any method of social media, but especially if you are trying to keep things from your spouse!  It is easy to forget who is watching you – and who is watching them.  You might not even intend to be mean to your spouse, for example, and the meeting you set up might be entirely innocent, but, if your relationship with your partner has already broken down or is on rocky ground, that seemingly innocent comment or arrangement can take on a much more sinister significance.  The information that is found on your ‘wall’ is increasingly being used as evidence in family law cases.”

Of course, Facebook denies the claims made in the research and its public policy manager, Fred Wolens, said "It's ludicrous to suggest that Facebook leads to divorce and we would suggest that anyone who purports to have conducted surveys about the topic also ask respondents about other popular communications such as text messaging, chat sites, and email."  In fact, in the same survey, Twitter was mentioned only 20 times. 

Sandra can be contacted on 0114 272 9184 or by email at SR@graysons.co.uk  www.graysons.co.uk