Changing Face of breakups

AUSSIE couples are increasingly buckling under the pressure of Facebook, with the social media giant blamed for more and more relationship breakups.

Counsellors are reporting treating couples for insecurity, breakdowns in communication and infidelity directly linked to the social network.

Overseas studies show Facebook has become a leading cause in divorce cases.

Relationships Australia CEO Elisabeth Shaw said the organisation is increasingly seeing Facebook raised as an issue in counselling sessions.

“Social media and Facebook are mentioned a lot, in a variety of ways,’’ she said. “I have seen couples who battle over Facebook posts, who is argued to be showing greater investment in the relationship and who is not, as a result of posts.’’

Ms Shaw, a clinical and counselling psychologist, said there are also battles about Facebook encroaching on “couple time’’.

“I have had couples say ‘you communicate more on Facebook with your friends than you do with me’,’’ she said.

Australian Family Lawyers Melbourne head lawyer Melissa Muir says the firm has clients who have found out about their partner’s affairs via Facebook. “People have found love letters via Messenger.”

She says Facebook is also a useful tool in obtaining evidence against individuals in family law proceedings.

“If someone has posted a photo of themselves with a new motorbike or car but claim they don’t have any money or assets or are on holiday and say they don’t have money to support children, it can be used against them,” Ms Muir says.