6 Reasons Technology Is Affecting Divorce Rates

It seems new technology isn’t the only thing which is on the rise in our households. Some of us may have lost value of the good-old touch in grasping with the realities of the new technological world. New studies show that maybe it’s not the lack of chemistry between couples that is causing divorces, but the increase in tech time. More and more studies are showing that there may be a correlation between technology and divorce, the divorce rates are rising and marriage quality is decreasing because of cultural and economic forces. It won’t be an exaggeration to infer that technology and social media are one of the leading causes of broken marriages.

Does too much technology cause divorce?

Let’s look at technology and marriage problems and their correlation in detail-

1. Money

It seems like everyday a new Iphone is getting launched and a hot, trendy tech gadget has become a must have. This may be causing a financial hurdle between couples. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs was a theoretical article posted in “A Theory of Human Motivation”. It categorized different levels of the human psyche. When filtering our needs and wants in a relationship often money becomes a major factor and causes arguments over what’s a necessary purchase or is it just a purchase motivated by “wants.” This drives up the divorce rates in the long run.

2. Social media

Many people spend time studying their Facebook news feeds and Instagram followers the last thing before going to sleep. But this may not be the best fix for a broken marriage. A study posted in the journal Computers in Human Behavior done by researchers at the University of Boston and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile studied state-by-state divorce rates to per-capita facebook accounts and found a direct correlation between social media use and decreased marital quality. It’s only time that social media and divorce statistics start to show some correlation too. The amount of social media use in a marriage can lead to jealousy and often cause major communication issues. Social media causes divorce if the time spent on it is not monitored. It’s surprising that it is one of the top reasons for divorce in America.

3. Age

According to San Diego divorce lawyer Tara Yelman, only 11.7 % of men between the ages of 30-34 years file for divorce.”  Yelman’s research suggests that women are the ones filing for divorce.  Additionally, she has found that the divorce rates are on the rise for younger couples and those who commit more time to technology than their relationships. The correlation lies between age and technology usage. This is because younger couples tend to use technology more frequently.

Also watch: 7 Most Common Reasons for Divorce

4. Time  

Time is important when you work all day on a computer and then come home and spend it scrolling through Facebook. Sadly, this is the norm for many couples and has led to major shifts in communication and a loss of together time. A Nielsen company audience report indicates that adults spend an average of 10 hours and 39 minutes a day on the computer. This leaves just about enough time to drive home and take a shower. As a result, couples are losing valuable communication time that has several long-term consequences. This ultimately leads to an increase in divorce rates of the country.

5.  Social life

Think back to the last concert you went to. Did you post a video or at least take a photo? Everything from the way we interact and socialize is being altered by technology. Technology is at the forefront of most of our daily interactions. Our social lives are no longer centered around communication with our spouse and children. Today, many people go out not to socialize, but to share their “social experience.” Today, consumers want experiences that they can share with their friends on social media and sometimes they forget to share these moments with their spouses. These shifts have led many researchers to believe there is a direct correlation between divorce and technology. Living in the moment is extremely beneficial and will help keep a relationship fresh and sometimes the memories of a social event can be more sacred if it’s shared between two people and not on a sharing platform.

6. Distorted connection

According to USA today and Business Insider, adults spend an average of 23 hours a week texting. A survey led by qualitative social researcher Ruth Rettie concluded that texting is a complementary medium for many couples and has become a primary way of communicating with your spouse. However, research indicates that texting gives us a “remote social connection” that differs from the intimacy present in phone calls. The study found that “Texters” were more likely to feel lonely than “Talkers.”  As a result, this can cause a distorted connection between couples. One important form of this “intimacy” has a lot to do with the tone of voice and the duration of the conversation. 

Maslow believed that it is important that our lives be filled with happiness and contentment. If we strive for growth and strength, happiness and satisfaction should come naturally. If you focus on freeing yourself (even a little) from the chains of technology, you might see stronger growth in the communication between you and your spouse.

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Rachael Pace Author

Rachael Pace is a noted relationship writer associated with Marriage.com. She provides inspiration, support, and empowerment in the form of motivational articles and essays. Rachael enjoys studying the evolution of loving partnerships... Read more and is passionate about writing on them. She believes that everyone should make room for love in their lives and encourages couples to work on overcoming their challenges together. Read less

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