Is Online Dating More Likely to Lead to Divorce?

A survey has found that couples who meet online are more likely to get divorced. The good news about marriage forged via dating apps is that it can bring people together. The bad news, according to this research is that these marriages may be more fragile and likely to fail. The reason is assumed to be because people who meet online do not share already existing social ties.

In the past, people who got married often met each other through shared social connections. Now that more people are meeting online it is possible that there are bigger obstacles to finding common ground. Many of these things could be about values – related to religion, culture, and tradition. But many more could be about simple logistics, such as where a couple live, or how much each spouse earns. 

This is where things can get complicated in divorce. Some of the most contentious divorces involve money or children. If a couple from different countries or states break up, it could involve the relocation of one spouse, and if children are involved this could make the divorce difficult. 

Previous research [https://mashable.com/article/online-dating-change-world] has found that couples who meet online tend to be from more diverse backgrounds economically, nationally and culturally.

Divorce between people who date online could face a number of problems that stem from not sharing common social ties, economic parity, and culture. For example: 

  • Couples of different nationalities or those from different states could want to relocate, which could affect child custody negotiations. Relocation can be an issue in divorce if one parent wants to bring the child with them. In a Massachusetts divorce, a parent who is relocating with a child must get the permission of the other parent. If one parent objects, a court may have to decide what is in the best interests of the child.
  • Spouses who meet on dating apps could have issues with blending with each other’s friends, families, and communities. If this is the case, the divorce might be more contentious, especially if in-laws are overbearing and have a lot of financial control over the couple’s future.
  • Spouses in economically imbalanced relationships could have difficulty splitting assets. If one of the spouses has a high paying or low paying job, there could be conflict over how the spouses support each other in the future, particularly if job prospects are not equal. 
  • If spouses meet each other online and they share quite diverse cultural backgrounds, tradition and culture may be a point of conflict. Divorce may be more frowned upon in one culture than in another, so one party may be less willing to get a divorce, or it could be more disruptive to social ties. Couples from different nationalities and cultures could struggle to agree how to raise their children when it comes to language, culture, and religion.
  • Couples who meet online might not know each other very well but quickly get married, only to find themselves facing divorce. There are issues with short marriages which revolve around a reduced claim to spousal support. Statistics showed that many of the couples who broke up during the pandemic were newlyweds [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sex-relationships-divorce-during-covid-121500480.html]. With job losses in the pandemic, even spouses who were together a short time might be economically dependent on each other. If you went through a pandemic break-up after a short-term marriage and are financially dependent on your spouse, you should speak to your attorney as soon as possible. 

Overall, people who met online could have to confront more varieties of conflict when splitting assets and deciding on child custody. If this is you, you should speak to an experienced Boston Divorce Attorney who can guide you through the divorce process and negotiate for you so you can be sure you are protected during the difficult process of ending your marriage. 

At Amaral & Associates P.C., we understand the complexities that can arise during and after a divorce. If you are thinking about getting a divorce and reside in Massachusetts, please call Amaral & Associates, P.C. at (617) 539-1010 or visit us at www.Amarallaw.com  for information about what your next steps should be and whether or not mediation or a traditional divorce is the best option for you.

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