Well, I mean not totally – it’s the evidence found on Facebook as grounds for the dissolution of marriage which causes 20% of all divorce cases in the US, but still. Big number. Increasingly, social networking sites form the primary source of evidence in custody battles and divorce proceedings, so heads up.

Which isn’t to say that divorce rates are up as a result of Facebook – in fact, stats suggest that divorce rates have dropped since 2009 – only that, when divorces do occur, they’re more likely to come as a result of information unwittingly divulged online.

Says The Guardian:

“We’re coming across it more and more. One spouse connects online with someone they knew from school. The person is emotionally available and they start communicating through Facebook.”

Whether or not similar trends are expected elsewhere on the globe remains to be seen – but now might be the time to update your privacy settings, if you feel the need.

[The Guardian]
[image via fbknol]