Thanks to a number of initiatives launched in Tennessee over the last few years, we’re all well aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Marriages, however, are also in danger of going off the rails – and distraction may be a leading cause. Think about it: the things that make texting and driving dangerous are the very same things that make being a distracted partner dangerous: lack of attention to the task at hand, increased interest on things going on around you, and taking the road (whether literally or metaphorically) for granted by assuming nothing will happen to you.

CNBC reported on the link between social media use and divorce this past summer. Though their research did not indicate that using social media could lead to a divorce, it did find a correlation between unhappy marriages and increased social media use.

Is Facebook contributing to higher divorce rates?

Facebook in particular catches a lot of flak – there’s even a website called FacebookCheating.com where people whose spouses and partners can relate their stories – but it may be unfair to rope them in. The truth is, most of the signs of unhappy marriages (lack of intimacy, not making time for one another, even sleeping in separate beds) stem from one main problem: a lack of communication. Social media sites give people in unhappy marriages what they want most: a response, attention to their feelings, and an open forum to communicate their fears, angers and frustrations.  It’s little wonder that people turn to social media outlets when they are unhappy in their marriages, and that they spend more and more time on those outlets.

In cases such as these, the social media sites become the distraction – and that distraction may make a bad situation even worse. Even for couples whose differences are simply too profound to move forward risk losing a chance to proceed with a divorce in a more amicable way.  By focusing on the instant-gratification of Facebook, Twitter or social media sites, couples become less likely to talk about their differences and their needs with one another.

Whether your marriage is in trouble or not, it’s always better to focus on your relationship than it is to seek assurances from biased third-parties. A distracted marriage – from social media, online gaming or even excessive work schedules – rarely ends well. If you think your marriage is in trouble and you want to save it, take the advice the Tennessee police: put your cell phone down and pay attention.

 

If you and your partner are seeking mediation or divorce services, our firm can help you move forward. Please contact Miller Upshaw Family Law, PLLC for more information.