What makes a relationship these days? What is cheating? More and more couples are finding that they’re confronted by this question when it comes to “internet affairs,” even when the activity never turns physical.
Social media has become an integral part of human life, allowing folks to connect with old friends (and old flames) and share their thoughts, feelings and dreams with others worldwide. However, this same connectivity has also opened the door to new forms of infidelity – and it is ending marriages.
Online affairs are still emotional betrayals
The heart of any affair is still a betrayal of trust. Social media affairs are, by their nature, secretive. They generally involve the exchange of intimate messages, photos and conversations that are kept secret from a spouse. This creates an exclusive, tight emotional bond between the affair partners.
Emotional infidelity can be just as damaging (if not more) than physical cheating. When someone invests their emotional energy in someone other than their spouse, their spouse can feel rejected. The time this emotional bond takes away from the marriage is also problematic.
In addition, social media affairs erode trust by fostering deceit. Even if the affair is never physically consummated, the mere fact that a spouse in an internet affair is likely hiding messages, deleting conversations or lying about who they’re talking with online can create a massive rift in the relationship. Once they’re found out, that may shatter any sense of security or stability the betrayed spouse once felt.
Facebook is now being cited in about a third of all divorce filings, which indicates that online affairs, physical or not, are becoming more common. If you’ve reached your limit with your spouse due to their online affair or other reasons, it may be time to seek legal guidance.
