A survey conducted by the law firm Wright Hassall found that 25% of respondents had checked through their partner's social media accounts at least one time during lockdown. Another 33% admitted to have snooped around at least once during the entire relationship.
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Social media: a breeding ground for temptation
Interestingly, 44% of respondents said they would seriously contemplate ending their relationship if they found any incriminating messages on their partner's phone.
Divorce and family lawyer Dal Heran believes that:
Whilst social media and advances within technology are helpful to those in long-distance relationships, it also makes it easier for partners to communicate online with other people. It is not only easier for that contact to be made but for people to check what their partner is up to and who they are talking to, which could contribute to feelings of mistrust or paranoia.
Lockdown is a contributing factor
And some are saying that lockdown has played a role in the amount of relationships that crumbled during the months of isolation. The main two reasons that respondents said they would be compelled to send flirtatious messages are the need to feel desired by someone elseand being generally unsatisfied with their current relationship.
It surely does not help to be left pondering either of those two reasons on top of being stuck with someone 24/7. As a result, social media mixed with resentful people in relationships during a lockdown makes for more people tempted to cheat and suspecting partners breaching boundaries by snooping around. Heran explains that:
We're currently experiencing an increase in divorce enquiries which as research suggests could be being partially driven by people being tempted to go astray by the development of online relationships and flirtations.
Adding that:
Couples are reporting a surge in arguments and mental health is, in many cases, suffering. This could be leaving many adults contemplating their relationships, especially as the pandemic has been shown to exacerbate existing marital issues further.
