How Social Media Can Impact Your Marriage

Whether you’ve been dating someone for a week or married for a decade, chances are you’ve been told by at least one person that communication is one key factor to the success of any relationship. There is no disputing that. But how do you keep your other non-romantic relationships alive as well? If you’re like 78% of Americans, you probably incorporate at least one of the 2.34 billion global social media outlets into your life.

And why not? It’s an easy, free, and effective way to connect with personal and professional contacts all over the world. Why else would Facebook still lead the pack over a decade after its launch with over 1.71 billion currently active members? Of course, what works for socializing outside of the family home can also cause havoc within those four walls. Just how can social media impact your marriage and potentially lead to contacting a Michigan divorce attorney?

Excess Social Media Interest Can Replace Intimacy

Building new relationships online or even maintaining existing ones over technology can be an exciting escape from real life. Suddenly that cute girl at the water cooler isn’t as shy as she is at the office. Maybe the VP actually has a deliciously wicked sense of humor outside of the board room. Perhaps those high school pals from 20 years ago are a lot cooler than they used to be. But what about your sweetheart offline? It might be time to close the laptop and focus on some high-quality canoodling. A study in Computers in Human Behavior discovered that couples that avoid social media are 11% happier in their marriages compared to couples who chat away online.

Social Media Overuse Can Lead to Jealousy

There’s something truly appealing about anonymity. But that can lead to an addictive pattern when combined with social media usage. Talking, venting or flirting can cause suspicious behavior on your part even if you convince yourself it means nothing. Hiding your computer screen, adding locks or new passwords, leaving the room or avoiding your spouse for hours… it leads to jealousy, snooping, and eventual conflict. Research has proven that the more often a partner check’s the other’s social media activity, the more jealousy and doubts he or she feels as a result.

Social Media Activity Can Lead to a Michigan Divorce

Ten percent of social media users admit to hiding activity from their spouses while eight percent admit to having secret accounts. One-third of all divorces start as online affairs. So jealousy shouldn’t always be ignored or swept away. Technology makes connecting secretly via smartphones, tablets, apps, and even gaming consoles easier than ever before. Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom. One-third of marriages in America begin through connections made on social media or dating sites. And the average length of those relationships is longer than those created offline. Couples that meet that way, however, already understand the power of the internet.

In many cases, the strongest relationships forged online begin with clear-cut rules regarding individual time online. Moving a relationship from online to real life means both parties are ready for a physical and monogamous relationship. Social media prenups are often part of the deal to keep each side accountable to the rules while maintaining respect for each other and prioritizing the commitment. Still, the lure of social media can be too much for even those with the best intentions. If you’re concerned social media is destroying your marriage, contact your Michigan divorce lawyer to see what can be done to either get back on track or move on as painlessly as possible.