Couples affected by overuse of social media while on holiday

Too much time spent checking social media whilst on holiday could result in arguments and even complete relationship breakdowns for couples this summer, a survey has revealed.

The online survey of over 1000 married individuals was recently commissioned by Brookman, a London-based family law firm.

It revealed that whilst many expected their partner to take work calls or emails whilst on holiday, their biggest frustration came from their often constant use of social media.

Although over half of respondents said their partner had sent an email or made a work-related phone call during a holiday and over a third said their partner often takes a laptop or phone  with them on holiday, almost 80% felt that their partner had actually had a good work-life balance.

However, when it came to their use of social media whilst on holiday, the results showed a different story.

Over 60% said they checked social media/email at least every day whilst on holiday, a quarter said that their partner checked emails or social media several times a day, with a further 2.6% stating ‘10x + a day’ and 6.8% saying ‘all the time’.

Over a quarter of participants also said they felt frustrated or angry that their partner wasn’t engaged, or seemed ‘distracted’ from the family whilst on holiday.

It is estimated that the average internet user is now on social media and messaging services for over two hours per day and the issue of being ‘physically present’, but ‘emotionally distant’ is a growing problem for couples.

Brookman commissioned the survey to explore this area further after noticing a rise in the number of people who were including excessive use of technology in their divorce petition statements.  

Senior partner, Henry Brookman, said: “Addiction to technology is a growing problem for couples, as people spend more time in ‘virtual relationships’ with friends, followers and even complete strangers. Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in the number of people who consider this problem to be a contributing factor to their marriage breakdown. Often, by the time they turn to us, the problem has spiraled into an irreconcilable state, and divorce has become the only feasible option.”

Ways of reducing the use of technology while on holiday include: 

1. Leaving your phone or tablet behind when you go out 
2. Don’t invest in extra data packages 
3. Use Flight Mode – so that you can use the usual phone functions, but without the risk of distraction from social media updates.
4. Short and Sharp – If you really do have to check social media, make sure you do so for only a minute or two and no more than twice a day.