New Source of Infidelity: Social Media and the Internet

 Posted on February 01, 2018 in Main

Cheating has been a problem in romantic relationships since romantic relationships came into existence. In the past, many cheating spouses found their new partners through work, mutual friends, and other in-person social interactions. An instance of infidelity used to stereotypically involve dinner and a hotel room, but today, affairs can look quite different.

The internet has changed the way we do almost everything. It is now easier than ever to keep in contact with old friends or significant others and to meet new people. Through the world wide web, people in the United States can talk to someone in Australia instantaneously. We are more connected as a human species than ever before, but sometimes this over-connectedness can cause problems in our most valuable relationships.

What Is Considered Cheating?

One of the things which makes online affairs so difficult to categorize is because it is hard to determine what is infidelity and what is not. Each married couple has a different standard for how they interact with others while in a relationship. For some, a husband who is having platonic chats with an ex-girlfriend online is unacceptable, while others may not mind. Many couples consider any activity done in secret to be immoral. So, if a wife has an online friend but keeps it a secret, she is cheating. Other couples may accept online flirtation but draw the line at physical interaction. Whatever the circumstances, only those people within the marriage can truly decide what is cheating to them and what is not.

Emotional Affairs

Many people who have close, romantic relationships online are guilty of having an “emotional affair.” Emotional affairs can take many different forms, but the main problem is that they take away from a person’s marriage. Psychotherapist Abby Rodman explains, “If effort is consistently being expended outside the marriage, that may be a sign of a non-traditional affair, like an emotional affair.” An emotional affair occurs when a spouse shares intimate information with a person other than their spouse. Sometimes they may have sexual conversations with the other person, but other times, they are just deeply involved emotionally. A married individual having an emotional affair often begins to pull away from his or her spouse and even isolate themselves. This can cause further tension and mistrust in the primary relationship. Often, emotional affairs can lead to the breakdown of the marriage. Some divorces are directly caused by a spouse’s secret online relationship.

Divorce Attorneys in DuPage County

If you are considering divorce, contact a compassionate, dedicated Wheaton divorce lawyers at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC. We can help you and your family navigate the difficult process of divorce and create a better future for your family. Contact our attorneys to schedule a confidential consultation at 630-665-7300 today.

Sources:

https://www.biznews.com/columnists/heather-dugmore/2014/09/20/divorce-by-facebook-why-online-affairs-dont-end-happily-ever-after/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ways-you-may-be-cheating-on-your-spouse-without-even-realizing-it_us_581a59cce4b0c43e6c1dd22d