The online dating website Victoria Milan is marketed specifically for people who are seeking "discreet affairs." The site has conducted several surveys of its users to help gain insight in what clients who sign up are really thinking.

The site, which has users from all over Europe and North America, conducted a survey of U.S. clients to find out which city has the most active online users. And the winner is Chicago, where clients spend 25 percent more time on the dating site than clients in the rest of the country. Los Angeles came in at 21 percent higher than the rest of the country’s users, New York City at 18 percent, Houston was at 11 percent and Dallas came in at nine percent.

In another survey the site conducted, two-thirds of those survey admitted they would not cheat if it wasn’t for the internet. Sixty-six percent of users said that the internet gives them easy opportunities to stray, with all the social media sites that are available.

A doctoral student at the University of Missouri has found that Facebook and other social media tools can have detrimental effects on relationships and marriages. Russell Clayton’s research has revealed that excessive Facebook users are connected with higher levels of Facebook-related conflict. This conflict can cause long-term problems in the relationship, like higher chances of cheating and divorce.

In the study, Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 82 were surveyed about their current level of social media use. Individuals were also asked to share details about conflict with their significant others as a result of their Facebook use. High levels of Facebook use in couples was linked to higher levels of conflict for the couple, often surrounding perceived issues of jealousy over communication and interactions with other Facebook friends. Using social media also makes details about the relationship or marriage much more public, since pictures and other shares can give Facebook friends a window into the couple&s life.

Part of the research may be sharing details about how social media affects jealously. For example, many survey respondents reported feeling a need to check on their significant other’s Facebook use, monitoring their conversations and sharing with other members of the site. Ultimately, this kind of monitoring may breed feelings of jealousy and an overall lack of trust. It’s important to note that these findings were only applicable to newer relationships, classified as those 3 years or less. This could signal that excessive use of Facebook or other social media can harm fledgling relationships, causing tension and jealousy early on before the relationship has been allowed to mature.

Although some couples would prefer to never have contact with one another again following their separation or divorce, those who share children must continue to communicate in some manner, perhaps for many years to come. A recent New York Times article, however, points out that with the advent of technology, formerly hostile and emotional exchanges between former spouses can become relatively neutral and perhaps be avoided altogether. These electronic communications can even allow an almost unworkable joint custody situation to become doable, at least from a distance.

While cell phones allowed for a convenient source of communication, they still require ex-spouses to hear each other’s voices, which can be an automatic source of irritation for some. E-mail and text messages, though, eliminate voices altogether, and allow for a more detached, much less emotional form of communication. Other parents use a mutual Google calendar in order to map out visitation arrangements regarding their children. Whatever the type of electronic communications used, most parents agree that the lack of hostility in their interactions has enhanced their relationship and made it easier for their children.

Technology has also made interactions between parents and their children easier, as well. Children often must have cell phones so that both parents can access them at designated times, without going through the other parent. The development of Skype also can bring parent and child closer together, particularly when distance is a factor.

Almost everyone has an account on Facebook, Twitter or some other social media service. People share many personal things on social media, including how they are feeling at a given moment or what may be frustrating them. It is also easy to find old friends and ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends on social media, which can easily affect your emotional life and your marriage.

CBS reported a story about the effects social media is having on relationships and divorces. According to the story, social media is causing countless divorces, because men and women are discovering their spouse&s online indiscretions. A woman who wanted to remain anonymous said in the CBS story that she found out her husband was having numerous relationships with women online, and that ruined their marriage.

Social media is not only affecting marriages and relationships due to people are cheating online, but also because people are saying things or posting pictures that their spouses look at in shock. People get caught lying about where they went or what they are doing, or they say something that really upsets their spouse. Social media can also be a dangerous enemy in divorce.