05 March 2011

The Revenge of Facebook, Part III

CBC has reported on a survey of American divorce lawyers which found that Facebook ("Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life") had been cited in 1 in 5 US divorce cases and that the number of people using social media to conduct affairs seems to be on the rise.

In a dramatic but slightly bizarre press release titled "Don't Let Your Marriage be Among the 1 in 5 Destroyed by Facebook" issued by Loyola University commenting on the survey, clinical psychologist Steven Kimmons is quoted as saying that "improper use" of Facebook can "quickly devolve into marital disaster." The press release then offers some "safeguards" that must be intended for people with exceptionally poor impulse control:
  1. Look at how you use social media to see whether you talk to more men or more women and whether there is a certain type of person you prefer chatting with. "That can tell you something about how you’re using social networks. You may not even be aware that you’re heading down a road that can quickly get pretty dangerous."
  2. Set limits from the get go. "Spell out from the beginning with your online contacts what your expectations are of social networking relationships."
  3. Don't get naughty with your online friends. "It’s a good idea to not engage in intimate conversation with someone who is not your spouse." Duh.
  4. Share passwords with your spouse and "place the computer in a common area in the house or apartment." Like you would with an irresponsible teenager.
Hey, I'm on Facebook; drop me a line.

Update: 27 June 2014

Actually, I'm not on Facebook and haven't been for two or three years. If you need to find me, Google will tell you where to go.