FOR DISCUSSION: Is Facebook Ruining Your Relationship Status?

With Valentine’s day being just days away, love is in the air and if you’re in Atlanta, you’re probably looking forward to getting ‘snowed in’ with your boo for the snowstorm.

Word to the wise… if you want to increase the peace in your relationship, TURN YOUR PHONE OFF…. DISCONNECT… UNPLUG!

I know for some of you, that’s almost impossible… but did you know that social media (ie Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) could be killing your love life?

[READ: Instagram Flexin: T.I. Publicly Advises Tiny to ‘Cover Up’ Online + Tiny Snaps Back (PHOTOS)]

Putting your relationship online (good or bad) can be detrimental. No… for real. There are actual facts associated with my theory and numbers don’t lie!

[FLASHBACK: Should there be a ‘Rulebook’ for Facebook Relationships?]

Read how Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and any other ‘social’ media network could be ruining your relationship status below…



I’m sure we can all agree that there are some extreme circumstances of social media gone wrong…

[READ: Man Murders Wife, Posts Photos of Dead Body on Facebook… ]

But there are actual studies that prove Facebook has been the direct cause of many a failed relationship.

Divorce Online reports that three years ago, 20 percent of divorce filings in the US contained the word “Facebook.” A year later, the number had risen to 33 percent.

In most instances, the issues were the same: inappropriate messages to “friends” of the opposite sex, and cruel posts or comments between separated spouses.? Many times, Facebook “friends” would tattle to one partner in a relationship about the bad behavior of the other.

Ilana Gershon, an Indiana University professor and author of “The Breakup 2.0: Disconnecting Over New Media” interviewed 72 people from their late teens to their late 50s to discuss the role social media played in their breakups.

[READ: Jealous Boyfriend Murders Man For Commenting on Girlfriends Facebook Photo]

Gershon found that many college students actually deactivated their Facebook accounts in order to save their relationships. Since Facebook posts are mostly tiny nuggets of information provided without context, partners said they became suspicious and started to stalk each others’ profiles. It became something to quit.

“They describe Facebook as something that would turn them into jealous, distrustful people,” Gershon said.

“It was a really interesting question for me because no one stopped texting or emailing to save a relationship. Why do people feel Facebook transformed who they are?” (source)

Hmmmm… interesting.? I’ve always said that Facebook was the devil and while I certainly believe it’s a wonderful tool for gathering information and ‘connecting’ with friends, it can also be hazardous to ‘real life’ relationships.

What do you think of these unscientific social media studies?

Are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram really the ’cause’ of failed relationships or are they just tools that increase the chances?