Posted on 12/02/2010 7:25:10 AM PST by SeekAndFind
It used to be the tell-tale lipstick on the collar. Then there were the give-away texts that spelled the death knell for many marriages.
But now one in five divorces involve social networking site Facebook, according to a new survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
A staggering 80 per cent of divorce lawyers have also reported a spike in the number of cases that use social media for evidence of cheating.
Flirty messages and photographs found on Facebook are increasingly being cited as proof of unreasonable behaviour or irreconcilable differences.
Many cases revolve around social media users who get back in touch with old flames they hadn’t heard from in many years.
Facebook was by far the biggest offender, with 66 per cent of lawyers citing it as the primary source of evidence in a divorce case. MySpace followed with 15 per cent, Twitter at 5 per cent and other choices lumped together at 14 per cent.
The survey reflects the findings of UK law firm last year showing that 20 per cent of its divorce petitions blamed Facebook flings.
‘The most common reason seemed to be people having inappropriate sexual chats with people they were not supposed to,’ said Mark Keenan, managing director of Divorce-Online.
Friends Reunited faced similar claims when it was launched to help people reconnect with old classmates, but the 23 million plus people now using Facebook in Britain means it is having a much bigger effect on rising divorce rates.
‘Desperate Housewives’ star Eva Longoria recently split from her basketball player husband Tony Parker after alleging that he strayed with a woman he kept in touch with on Facebook.
An American minister also made the headlines recently when he called Facebook a ‘portal to infidelity’ and insisted that his congregation delete their accounts
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“FR is a bad influence too. I spend way too much time surfing here.”
Me too...but in spite of all of the time I spend here, no FReeper has ever hit on me. I guess that’s because we’re “Free Republic” not “Floozy Republic.”
So.....what are you wearing?
My wife is on Facebook, I don't get the appeal. The people I actually liked from high school and college I kept in touch with anyway.
Yeah, the stuff you listed would be “evidence”, not “offender”. It’s a poor workman who blames his tools...
Colonel, USAFR
completely agree. Facebook is a tool for social interaction & networking. You go there with ideas on what you want. Some go there to troll for men & women & they are usually successful.
I participate (DONT do games, gifts, APS) with friends from the multitude of places I have lived & the corresponding clubs, churches, neighborhoods. I found my best pal from navy OCS, my 2nd grade neighborhood girlfriend.
I have also been hit on (yes this old gal hit on) by some . Never respond if they are “not “ on my friend’s list & drop them very quickly if they are on my friend’s list and I know they are married or otherwise involved. It is up to you to make choices of what you will do & whom with.
Facebook can facilitate this. So can your phone. Your email. Your other networking accounts.
I don't think I'd describe it as "fault" but the fact is that the internet, Facebook in particular, does make it much easier to find that old HS or college sweetheart.
Thats why I wont let my wife be a friend on FB.
Facebook: the electronic lipstick on the collar
It’s OK. The other 4/5 invove the cell telephone. You’ve got a better chance for cheating if you stay off your cell and do all your cheating via Facebook. Carefull of the US Mail too because the statistic is no longer kept.
"and do not subject us to the final test." Temptation is difficult and we need prayer to overcome it. Facebook is a good thing when used properly.
bttt
AOL chatrooms did their fair share of damage as well.
So many people used it as a fantasy world where the grass was greener and they would fall in “love” to complete strangers thousands of miles away.
That isn't at all what the article said. What it says it that one in five (20%, if you will) divorce cases cite Facebook as evidence of either infidelity or irreconcilable differences. This isn't evidence that people cheat more or divorce more, just that it's a whole lot easier to access someone's Facebook account than hire a private detective.
He’s not a Palin fan. He’d probably get nuked.
How does someone sign up while sharing an isp?
“The survey reflects the findings of UK law firm last year showing that 20 per cent of its divorce petitions blamed Facebook flings.”
That says 20 percent of UK divorces handled by one firm were from Facebook flings alone.
I don't think there's any problem as long as he has a different email address. Mr. & Mrs. Don-o are both members, as are other couples and I assume they are on the same ISP.
hahaha!
I think it's a good idea if married couples have access to each others email and other computer accounts, just to build trust and maybe help your conscience.
So I’ve heard that spouses who suspect their other half is cheating on them can get Facebook records and info back to a year that may have been removed or deleted from the offending spouse’s fb page. I would suspect if that is true that it would take legal action to obtain said information. Does anyone know if this is possible?
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