This year, social media’s influence on relationships reached “unprecedented levels”, with an increasing number of couples citing digital issues, such as online infidelity, social media jealousy, and digital detachment, as significant reasons for their divorces.
Online divorce service Divorce-Online has seen a surge in cases where social media is directly contributing to marital breakdown, confirming the company’s early predictions about the role digital platforms would play in modern divorces.
In 2014 , Divorce-Online conducted a landmark study that revealed Facebook was being cited in one-third of UK divorces at the time. The company’s insight into the correlation between social media activity and marriage breakdown was widely reported by the press, with outlets like The Telegraph and Daily Mail covering how Facebook-related behaviour, such as reconnecting with old flames or engaging in online flirtation, was becoming a common factor in divorce proceedings.
Now, a decade later, these trends have evolved, with Instagram , Snapchat , and WhatsApp driving a similar rise in divorce cases. Couples are increasingly citing issues such as:
- Online infidelity: Virtual affairs, inappropriate online messages, and emotional connections with people outside the marriage.
- Social media envy: Partners comparing their relationship to idealised portrayals of other couples online, leading to dissatisfaction.
- Digital detachment: Constant phone use, obsession with social media, and a lack of meaningful, in-person communication.
Mark Keenan, Managing Director of Divorce-Online, said:
“Back in 2014, we were one of the first to identify the growing role social media would play in marital breakdowns, and the data we’re seeing in 2024 is even more compelling. Couples are not just battling traditional issues like infidelity or financial problems anymore. The digital world has introduced new challenges—whether it’s an online affair, unrealistic expectations set by influencers, or simply the distraction of always being ‘plugged in’.
We’ve seen a marked increase in clients reaching out because of issues that started online. It’s clear that digital infidelity is no longer just a side issue in relationships—it’s often the main cause of marital breakdown.”
Divorce-Online also predicts that AI-generated content and the rise of virtual reality relationships could become key factors in future divorces, as technology becomes further integrated into personal lives.
