Social media may prove beneficial for keeping far-flung families in touch, but does the ease in making connections with others make it easier to walk away from a marriage? Divorce in Pennsylvania is rising, particularly in the older population.
The number of retirees splitting is up as Baby Boomers decide to abandon longstanding marriages. Is social media pushing people to divorce?
Everything looks perfect online
A common gripe with social media platforms is the phoniness of it all. People often take to posting perfect family photos, home-cooked gourmet meals and vacations galore. These posts may spark feelings of yearning and jealousy. Followers may want that kind of life and feel deprived at home. According to the Huffington Post, this dissatisfaction may lead to anger and frustration towards a partner at home.
Easy to spark an old flame
Stories abound regarding long-lost loves reconnecting via a social media platform after decades apart. These romantic notions may have a less-than-happy spouse wondering about his or her lovers from years ago. A few minutes and keystrokes later, the older but still attractive subject may present with a full profile and a new sense of yearning. Message exchanges and perhaps phone calls may follow, and the once extinguished flame may come roaring back. It may mark the end for a marriage.
Ultimately, the reasons for divorce may never truly come to light, but if you feel you or your spouse took a liking to an online profile, your hunch may prove right. Social media may play a role in making someone who believes he or she is unhappy slide further away from a current spouse. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.