A new study finds that extensive use of Twitter can lead to infidelity and divorce, according to University of Missouri researchers
Twitter and other social networking sites have revolutionized the way people communicate with each other. School friends can get in touch, people can keep tabs on colleagues and users can express their views about anything with statuses, posts and pictures. Amidst all these benefits, social networking sites have come under the wrath of many due to the negative effects they have on people's lives. This includes lack of privacy, vulnerability to identity theft, over-marketing of products and a sedentary lifestyle that causes a string of health issues like obesity.
Adding one such adverse effect to the list, researchers from the University of Missouri found that excessive use of Twitter can harm romantic relationships leading to infidelity and divorce.
Russell Clayton, a doctoral student at the University found that active Twitter users are more likely to face Twitter-related conflicts with their romantic partners, which can permanently damage their relationship. For the study, Clayton surveyed 581 Twitter users of all ages. The survey included questions like how often they login to Twitter, tweet, scroll the Twitter newsfeed, send direct messages to others and reply to followers. Participants were even asked about any conflict that arose between their current or former partners as a result of Twitter use.
The results revealed that the more active users were on twitter, the more likely they were to experience Twitter-related conflicts with their partners, irrespective of the age of the relationship.
"I found it interesting that active Twitter users experienced Twitter-related conflict and negative relationship outcomes regardless of length of romantic relationship," Clayton said in a statement. "Couples who reported being in relatively new relationships experienced the same amount of conflict as those in longer relationships."
Previously, Clayton had conducted a similar study on Facebook users. There he found that active Facebook users also experienced Facebook-related conflicts with the partners. However, negative relationship outcomes were greater among couples in newer relationships of 36 months or less.
"Although a number of variables can contribute to relationship infidelity and separation, social networking site usage, such as Twitter and Facebook use, can be damaging to relationships," Clayton said. "Therefore, users should cut back to moderate, healthy levels of Twitter use if they are experiencing Twitter or Facebook -- related conflict. Some couples share joint social networking site accounts to reduce relationship conflict, and there are some social networking site apps, such as the 2Life app, that facilitates interpersonal communication between partners."
The study titled "The Third Wheel: The Impact of Twitter Use on Relationship Infidelity and Divorce" was published online in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
