Is Facebook and other social media networks destroying relationships? Has it affected your marriage or relationship?
According to ABC News , a third of all divorce filings last year contained the word “Facebook.”
Many of the filings have to do with spouses sending inappropriate messages to Facebook “friends” or saying nasty things about their significant others.
According to Franchesca Warren from Bossygirl1980.com, there are three ways that Facebook is ruining marriages across the country.
Mrs. Warren writes:
1. Posting arguments online. Think about this: an angry husband (or wife) gets mad and goes onto Facebook and makes a comment such as , “So apparently (insert spouse’s name) is cheating one me. What should I do?” This is the most common way that Facebook ruins marriages because now you have 1. accused your spouse of cheating. And 2.) invited all 900 of your Facebook friends into your marriage. In a marriage some things are meant to be discussed within the marriage only—not for the world to see. Accusations of cheating and petty arguments can erode your marriage’s foundation.
2. You becomes friends with an ex boyfriend (or girlfriend) on Facebook and all hell breaks lose! We’ve all had that situation where you get a friend request from someone you used to date and think, “What the hell do they want?” Wanting to be nice you accept the friend request. Then, that first inbox message starts. At that point you realize that this “friend request” was more than your ex wanting to be friends. To make matters worse, many times spouses will keep these interactions secret- the second big mistake. If you reply to the messages and start the “Inbox flirting” going you are making another big mistake that can cost you your marriage.
My advice is to not even start interactions like this. Sure I’m friends with some of my ex’s on Facebook, but only if they’ve gotten over any relationship we’ve had in the past. I remember in the past, there was a Facebook stalker on my page who I had to delete (and block) because he kept “in boxing” me crazy stuff. Me and my husband would laugh about it. But I ultimately had to cut him off my Facebook. If someone starts “in boxing” you, tell your spouse then block and delete that person. Problem solved and marriage saved!
3. You go onto Facebook and post information before your spouse knows. This is probably the easiest thing NOT to do but so many people engage in it. They get mad at their spouse and instead of just not speaking to them for a couple of hours they go on Facebook and change their relationship status! Thus, making the affected spouse to find out (via Facebook or a nosy friend) and then all hell breaks lose! Stop it now and don’t even think about announcing anything on your Facebook page without first telling your spouse!
Franchesca Warren is writer, author, blogger, educator, runner, entrepreneur, mother and overall BossyGirl. You can visit Franchesca’s website here or follow her on Twitter and Facebook
Do you think social media is ruining marriages and relationships? Leave us a comment below!
