One study, published in the Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, found that people who use Facebook more than once an hour are more likely to “experience Facebook–related conflict with their romantic partners,” leading to a breakup or divorce. The study surveyed 205 Facebook users aged 18 to 82, hypothesizing that more frequent social media use and monitoring of one’s partner could lead to misunderstandings and feelings of jealousy. The study notes a strong correlation between Facebook use and relationship stability. Authors of the study posited that, for most, the correlation probably stems from jealousy and arguments about past partners related to social media snooping. Of course, the study also found that social media makes it possible or easier for users to reconnect with others, including past lovers, which could lead to emotional and physical cheating.
In 2012, British divorce lawyers were surveyed to determine if there was a connection between social media use and divorce. According to that survey, approximately one in three divorces resulted from social media-related disagreements. Similarly, a 2010 survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) found that four out of five lawyers used evidence from social networking sites in divorce cases, mainly Facebook.