Paper Example Undergraduate 4,765 words

Divorce Facebook and Divorce Issue

Last reviewed: May 16, 2013 ~24 min read
Abstract

This paper is about Facebook and Divorce. One of the notable disadvantages of the Facebook usage is observed as divorce. The ratio of divorce is increasingly noted and it is also factual to state that suspicious spouse is always in search of any events compromising their relationships. The meaningful and interactive nature of social media allows development of misunderstandings among life partners. The role of social media in developing awareness and connecting partners from all walks of life cannot be underestimated. However the disadvantages are also certainly worth attention.

¶ … Divorce

Facebook and Divorce

Issue of divorce

Influence of Facebook on relationships in general

Negative effects of social networking in last few years

Virtual presence of an individual on Facebook

Backlash within the household

The causes for divorce-by-Facebook

Validity of social networks

Means to meeting people

Soul mate Search

The social interactions and connections are maintained through various techniques in the changing technological world. The extensive usage of technology and internet has transformed the previous physical social interactions maintained by the social networking websites, smart phone, and internet. There are various online communities offering the social interactions and social contracts building options. The significant online social interactions are offered through online gaming zones, dating websites, social networking portals, and content communities. The renowned social networking websites are Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. These are extensively used to stay in contact with friends and families. The individuals maintain their personal presence through updating status and expressing opinions about social, political, and business preferences. The likings and disliking are expressed and comments are sought. The individuals and businesses take advantage of advanced techniques. However it is also noted that with the presence of such robust social websites issues are also created. These issues includes disturbance in marital life, social affiliations, and distraction of social norms.

The reliance on virtual social networks creates a connected approach whereas some issues e.g. divorce rate is also increased. The reasons for divorce increase as instigated by usage of Facebook are explored in the research. The literature review is focused to investigate various aspects of the issue in light of the available secondary literature and case study. The important topics covered in the literature review are mainly regarding the Facebook divorce and reasons of such events. The influence of Facebook usage on personal lives of the users is also an important aspect of the issue. The positive and negative impacts of using Facebook are described along with the backlash on the household. Finally a results and discussion section combines the learning of research.

Issue of divorce:

The issues of divorce are quite trivial as it has multiple directions and various aspects. The individuals seeking divorce also have numerous reasons ranging from domestic issues to involvement with other individuals. It is also likely that the married couples are not happy with the current status. The issues from personal habits are also explored after marriages. The awareness to personal likings and disliking are transformed into options to seek support from other social support systems. The individual attitudes towards their spouse are also considerable in case diverse is considered. The age of married couple is also an important factor in determining the cause of divorce. The major factor of age in which the couple got married is also relevant in divorce cases. It is highly likely that the individuals getting married earlier are now fully aware of the individual habits and likings. Moreover with the passage of time the realities of life dominate love and affection in individuals and as a result the preferences are also influenced. The changes in desires and associations formulate a basis for individuals to look for other options as a result the social interactions are increased.

The social interaction in these days is mostly facilitated through social networking websites and portals. The usage of technology is also an influential factor in creating a falsified image of other person through likeable posts, status, and appraised pictures. It is also likely that a deceptive image is created through usage of these sites and various friends and relatives are attracted. The social interactions through social networking websites are one of the major causes in fueling the already strained relationships of couples. It is also observed that the happily living individuals are also influenced through increased interactions using social web sites.

Influence of Facebook on relationships in general:

The invention of internet itself created a one of the major change in human interactions. The fast passed access to interactions and mailings created a new dimension in communications. The increased availability of internet and its usage to effectively communicate with each other provided options to frequently exchange views and share ides using internet. Soon after the availability of internet as a cheap commodity individuals stated increased usage of electronic mailing and traditional mail systems were rapidly replaced through internet enabled emails. Later the real time communications took over and internet chats were offered through various service providers for no charge. It brought together various communities and individuals present at multiple locations and chat for hours.

However the inventions of social media sites are one of the revolutionary steps in creating a significant impact. The social interactions become frequent as well as a medium for propagating likings become vivid. The peers, colleges, and family was become continuously aware of what a person is doing through frequent status updates and reflecting the likings and disliking's of a person. The human relationships are widely influenced by the social media and social networking websites. It not only enabled a continuous connection with old friends and family but at the same time it created an opportunity to make new friends and interact with them more frequently.

The connections are developed and maintained through social internet web portals rather than physical interactions. It resulted into exerting great deal of influence of traditional maintaining of human interactions. The emergence of social media as an alternative medium to interact and respond to social issues also instigated various issues. The personal, professional, and political paradigms are most affected through social networking websites. It is also observed that it also created a huge impact on personal likings and disliking as well as association with various groups. The business corporations are also using the power tools of social media to promote their products and services. Similarly individuals are using it for social connections and seeking partnerships for their life.

Negative effects of social networking in last few years:

The usage of social media is increased over past three to five years. The extensive amount of usage and time devoted to social media has not only created issues at the same time it also created several negative impacts on personal and social lives of individuals. The people from all walks of life are influenced by using social media websites. The attempts to increase social network in terms of personal and professional relationships enabled individuals to share their thoughts and personal information over these portals. The positive side of the picture can be described in terms of increased maintained of old and new social contacts (Trusov et.al).

However the increased interactions with each other through social media provided a chance for persons to share their domestic issues and seek advice. It also allowed the individuals to promote their profile to multiple users and through creating a sympathetic view of their profiles create personal comfort zone with known or unknown individuals. It is observed that students and low aged group uses social media extensively.

Hence the impacts studied in various researches provide evidence that the social media usage of students have multiple negative impacts. Abusive behavior, development of affectionate relationships, and frequent unethical practices are also among the negative impacts. It is also likely for students to develop a habit of continuously remaining in contact with the opposite sexed entities create an impact on their lives. The aged communities are also among recipients of negative impacts. The frequent interactions with friend create a continuous threat for individuals to be attracted to each other and as a result develop relationships that can affect already formulated marital relationships.

Virtual presence of an individual on Facebook:

The human beings are social animals and they relate either to their family or to the groups. The affiliations are also referred to the social belongingness of individuals. The social groups that are related also share values and norms. The social interactions were mostly physical prior to introduction of internet. However telephone interactions were only form of virtual social interactions. The usage of inter-especially social networking sites changed the paradigm of interactions. It also enabled the individuals and social groups to formulate a constant presence on internet through which they express their opinions and associations. The individuals are virtually present in various locations of the world regardless of their physical presence. It has created complete new meanings to social interactions.

The usage of web technologies for connecting through voice, image, and live videos has enabled the societies to interact freely over internet. However there are various implications of such interaction including the actual expressions of body language and emotional attachments. Two or more individuals present in different locations do not share the similarity in their environments and respond to the actual situations in different manner. It is also likely that the physical expressions are not communicated through social interactions as appropriately as they are presented in physical meetings. The impressions created by the virtual interaction are limited to the understanding of individual perceptions. The actual communications and expressions are also limited to the exposure of technology.

The web camera interactions also reflect a minimal degree of actuality. The individuals meetings after virtual interactions are highly likely to experience a difference in the personal and communicative nature. The habits, preferences, and human likings are also absent in case of virtual interactions. It is also noted that after interacting with each other in virtual environment human beings are also likely to be exposed to a low level of self-expression. The human beings also have a tendency to exaggerate or underestimate certain emotional and nonverbal elements of communications. These elements are regarded as high value components of any human interactions.

Backlash within the household:

According to Rosin, Hanna the dominate nature of men in human relationships and marriages is replaced by women in coming years. The research also observes that the mature relationships including marriage will no more be dominated by men and the role of social media is significant in creating such shift. It is also likely that the dominant sex of men is well replaced by women through active users of social media and other related internet enables social networking websites. It is highly recommended to study the shift of power from men to women at all levels of society are radically shifting in favor of women. As a result the implications are observed on marriages, sex, children, and work life of individuals. There are significant changes occurred through social media and these changes are in terms of the work patrons and earnings. Moreover the individual earnings and spending patterns are also shifting having a profound impact on the coupling up and marriages.

The social interactions through websites are causing a massive impact on marriages, dates, and adultery. It is also noted that the social media usage is also causing huge impact on household. It is important to understand the impact of these implications and adopt means to eliminate the negative impacts. It is also recommended that individuals learn new techniques and gain knowledge to adopt means for reducing the negative impacts of virtual social networking. Harris, Joshua provides a deep insight about the relationships evolvement after the introduction of social media and networking websites. The usage of social media and Facebook are creating new insights to relationship formulations as well as to the existing relations within a family.

The causes for divorce-by-Facebook:

The online relationships cause various misunderstandings among households. The relationships based on friendships and personal interactions with the social groups sometimes involve revealing of private messages. These messages involve revealing number facts regarding the personal and marital secretes. It becomes public and often upon search they also come in the notice of the counterpart. As a result the relationships are strained. It is also likely that the spouse comes in contact with a hidden relationship maintained by the partners as a result the faith and trust is damaged. The damage in such emotional confidence impacts marital relationships. Women are more likely to seek divorce upon reveling of their husbands secret relationships. It is also noted that women are also affected by the fact that they are being cheated by their counterparts (Papadopoulou et.al ).

The women desire to involve in the secret relationships is instigated through various factors. The nature of personal interactions with their spouse is also one of the reasons. It is also noted that women take mutual relationships in different perspective and are more likely to indulge in activities of social nature. It is also likely that the alleged nature of interactions result into instigating a desire for divorce (Miller). The women seek divorce due to multiple reasons. The increased interaction and time devoted by individuals on Facebook result into developing a notion that the other person is more devoted and committed to dedicate increased time for personal interactions as compared to the legal spouse. The Facebook features of keeping chat history and maintain account of personal and private interactions are also likely to be observed by the spouse hence it also results into damaging marital relationships of individuals. The nature of virtual relationships is significantly different from the physical relationships. It is highly unlikely for an online relationship to become as perceived through virtual interactions.

The usage of Facebook is one of the extensive activities performed by various users of social networking websites. It is also noted that Facebook is denied as an open diary and it is readable for all permitted individuals. The usage of Facebook for propagating social and personal opinions is highly observed in individuals of all age groups especially students and young members of society. The usage of Facebook to interact with friend is common however it is also medium through which old relationships are also marinated. The individuals with large number of friends can connect with each other and in this process it is observed that some old relationships are also connected (Chen).

It also provides a significant approach in developing new contacts. The individuals with previous relationships and suspicious spouse are most likely to damage their current relationships. It is due to an open postage of status and various social opinions. The messages are publically displayed and as a result it creates occasions of mistrust among partners. The suspicious spouse is most likely to develop a negative impression and as a result the marriages are finished. The reasons for divorce are reported as Facebook among one out of five divorces observed in recent years. (Pavie).

According to Pavie, Xavier the suspicious spouse uses the publically displayed messages as well as private conversations among ex-friends to create an infidelity view of the counterpart. The individuals with a previous history of mistrust are also likely to be most affected by Facebook exchange of status or messages. The usage of social media should be careful in such respect as well as a selective friend circle should be allowed to view the social interactions. It can be maintained through strict privacy and confidentiallysettings. The usage of Facebook is one of the common reasons for divorce in numerous cases.The effects of online dating and social interactions can be observed in multiple directions. It is highly likely that the interactions on social portals result in the form of serious personal and professional damages including divorce. It is also noted that the individuals with a high degree of suspicion are highly exposed to the damages in their private lives (Kim and Jong-Eun).

Validity of social networks:

According to Cao, Qiang, et al. The social networks minimize the authenticity of profiles that are maintained online. It is also observed that people in online communities are highly likely to make fake accounts and upload fake pictures in their profiles. The mechanisms to approve authentic information are not in place as a result the individuals can easily maintain a fake account with falsified information. It is a deceptive move to interact and indulge in relationships with various individuals. Men and women both are trapped in numerous activities where it is noted that the actual information is hidden by individuals. It is highly likely that a long relationship maintained online can prove out to be a factitious upon physical encounter. The human nature of reliance on unseen is well used by the individuals to achieve their desires. The human beings are likely to encounter a completely different person upon physical interaction.

The Facebook accounts and profiles are also likely to be maintained by single or group of people with unethical human desires. It is also significant to mention that the mechanism to authenticate the profiles is not currently applied on social media and the real personas are not validated through authentic information. Hence it provides an opportunity for the individuals with variously different desires to utilize the social and powerful nature of social media for individual purposes. The family lives of individuals are distracted by indulging in activities that are not considered lawful as well as ethical in marital relationships (Heyn). It is also likely that an individual with fabricated account can create a web of high social presence through Facebook and the unaware public is attracted. The uses of a technology can be experienced in both positive and negative forms allowing the users to be vigilant and take a correct course of action in all aspects of life. The nature of social interactions through social networking sites requires a thorough and vigilant approach to validate the profiles and accounts.

Means to meeting people:

There are various means of socializing and number of techniques to meet people. It is also observed that the internet is used to socialize and meet people from various parts of the world. The internet socializing becomes one of the most popular forms after the introduction of social networking websites (Gelfand and Anthony). It has also become popular in terms of online dating and meeting facilities offered through various websites. The usage of social media as a mean to meet people has created a wide variety of opportunities and threats. The social fabric formulated after extensive usage of these websites has experienced changes. The changes observed in these aspects are of diverse nature. It is also noted that the practices followed through all these websites are not only based on virtual interactions but at the same time these also contain a certain degree of unreliability.

The virtual means of meeting people does not formulate a formal basis of authentic personal information. The individuals create a profile and provide information along with the images that would like to project. It is highly likely that the people present in online communities do not provide complete information. Even after providing information it cannot be claimed that person accessing information while being geographically present in different locations is completely informed. The nature of virtual relationships changes after indulging into an affectionate relationship (Rossetto). It is also likely that both individuals form a deceptive profile about each other. The dates and meeting set through online friends are least likely to reveal the actual personality traits of individuals. The couples can only understand each other to an extent and in presence of preconceived notions about each other it even becomes difficult for both to completely formulate a rational conclusion.

Soul mate Search:

The internet networking websites are used for multiple purposes. It is observed that businesses have started using these websites to promote their products and services. The extensive usage of social networking sites for improving business performance was only followed after a huge success of online dating websites. The pioneers of social networking communities can be denoted as live chatting services providers as well as the online dating websites. These were among the first to introduce live interaction with interested individuals. The social networking website users also create and use their accounts for multiple purposes. Among one of these purposes is a search of social connections, old friends, and soul mates.

The individuals in search of marriage partners often take help from websites. These websites can be online dating providers and web portals suggesting life partners after defining a criterion for desired personal traits (Nissenbaum). The usage of online dating sties as well as Facebook has increasingly sought popularity among various age groups and professionals. The students, professionals, and members of different societies create their online accounts with a particular desire and intentions. These profiles are maintained and friend requests are also directed towards these motives. It is important to note that an online social interaction has created a number of opportunities for relationship seekers.

There are a number of people using these websites for their personal perusal of goals and as a result the search of soul mates through Facebook is also a common practice. Facebook was originally created to interact and keep an updated track of classmates. However later it evolved into a publically available interaction platform for friends and couples. It is also noted that it provided a significant advantage for individuals to perform a pragmatic search of their soul mates through defining a desirable criterion (Eadie).

Case study:

According to Akande, Joel the couple got separate few weeks before and the husband ended up killing her wife. It is also stated in the case study that the anger of husband on spreading wrongful information over Facebook is the reason of such extreme act of violence. The wife is reported to be posting meaningful posts and updating status that intimidated husband. It is highly likely that after separation the couple has time to reconcile and come together. However in this case it is proven otherwise. Moreover it went into a step further situation where the wife has lost her life after the anger husband attempted a violent response to the posts of his wife.

The case study further explains that the wife was only found to update her status from married to single and looking for men caused the husband to feel humiliated and as a result he decided to stab his wife. It is noted that men are least likely to absorb their humiliation and react in a violent manner. The pathological and destructive anger are reason for the murder defined above. The public announcements of such events causehuge damages in most cases. It is also significant to note that human beings may absorb their anger and humiliation in case of private exchange of arguments or comments while public announcements may cause extreme anger and reactions may not be in context of the original actions. It can be in the form of violence and reputation of extreme nature (Akande).

Results and Discussion:

The results of the case study and literature review provides a detailed view of the investigations carried out in order to understand the impacts of using Facebook for social interactions. It is found that using Facebook and similar social networking websites for social interactions is generally a common practice. It is followed by various age groups and people belonging to multiple geographic locations. The locations are not relevant for the Facebook users and they interact with each other using the profiles. The authenticity of these profiles cannot be confirmed unless a thorough process is not followed. Even after following a thorough process the degree of certainly regarding images and certain key elements cannot be confirmed.

You’re 81% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.

Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log in
130,000+ paper examples AI writing assistant Citation generator Cancel anytime
References
15 sources cited in this paper
  • Akande, Joel. Relationships: What You Should Know and Do Before You Enter Into One...and After. Strategic Insight Publishing, 2009.
  • Cao, Qiang, et al. "Aiding the detection of fake accounts in large scale social online services." Proc. of NSDI. 2012.
  • Chen, Rui. "Member use of social networking sites—an empirical examination."Decision Support Systems 54.3 (2013): 1219-1227.
  • Eadie, William F. 21st century communication: a reference handbook. Vol. 1. SAGE Publications, Incorporated, 2009.
  • Gelfand, Julia, and Anthony Tony Lin. "Social Networking: Product or Process and What Shade of Grey?." (2011).
  • Harris, Joshua. I Kissed Dating Goodbye: A New Attitude Toward Relationships and Romance. Multnomah Books, 2013.
  • Heyn, Dalma. Marriage shock: The transformation of women into wives. Open Road, 2011.
  • Kim, Junghyun, and Jong-Eun Roselyn Lee. "The Facebook paths to happiness: Effects of the number of Facebook friends and self-presentation on subjective well-being." CyberPsychology, behavior, and social networking 14.6 (2011): 359-364.
  • Miller, Jean Baker. Toward a new psychology of women. Beacon Press, 2012.
  • Nissenbaum, Helen Fay. Privacy in context: Technology, policy, and the integrity of social life. Stanford Law & Politics, 2010.
  • Papadopoulou, Ekaterini, Gina Kessler Lee, and Karen E. Fisher. "To love, honor, and inform from this site forward: A model of dyadic information behavior in online-initiated relationships." System Sciences (HICSS), 2013 46th Hawaii International Conference on. IEEE, 2013.
  • Pavie, Xavier. Strategic Analysis of the Internationalization of the Social Network Facebook. ESSEC Publishing, 2011.
  • Rosin, Hanna. The End of Men: And the Rise of Women. Riverhead, 2012.
  • Rossetto, Kelly R. "Relational coping during deployment: Managing communication and connection in relationships." Personal Relationships (2012).
  • Trusov, Michael, Randolph E. Bucklin, and Koen Pauwels. "Effects of word-of-mouth versus traditional marketing: Findings from an internet social networking site." Journal of marketing 73.5 (2009): 90-102.
Cite This Paper
PaperDue. (2013). Divorce Facebook and Divorce Issue. PaperDue. https://www.paperdue.com/essay/divorce-facebook-and-divorce-issue-99492

Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.