WASHINGTON – Want your relationship to last? Get off Facebook.
A new study, soon to be published in the Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, found that excessive Facebook use is ruining relationships.
Russell Clayton, a doctoral student at the Missouri School of Journalism, found that excessive use of Facebook led to couples monitoring each other’s activities. And when a significant other doesn’t like what he or she sees, it leads to anger, jealousy and eventually, a breakup.
“Checking our mate out all the time, wondering what are they doing, is really based on fear — and fear is the opposite of love,” says Dr. Sheri Meyers, marriage therapist and author of “Chatting or Cheating: How to Detect Infidelity, Rebuild Love and Affair-Proof Your Relationship.”
The study found the most active Facebook users are the ones in newer romances, defined as a relationship of fewer than three years.
“Social Media is a challenge to every relationship,” says Meyers, who suggests sitting down with your partner and coming up with a social media prenuptial agreement.
“[Talk] to your partner about what’s cool and not cool to post on your Facebook page.”
However, in his study, Clayton comes up with a simpler suggestion: If you are in a new relationship, limit your Facebook use.
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