When Flirting Turns Into Infidelity: The Facebook Dilemma

Abstract

Facebook has become a vital part of daily living and a popular way of initiating, establishing, maintaining, and enhancing existing as well as new relationships, including illegitimate ones too. Facebook can promote relationship damaging behaviors such as flirting, sharing intimate details, establishing emotional intimacy, and engaging in sexual affairs. Emotional intimacy is a greater concern with Facebook than sexual intimacy. The maladaptive use of Facebook can lead to negative societal consequences such as social isolation, relationship distrust, lack of social cohesion, Facebook addiction, infidelity, and divorce. This article provides a theoretical synthesis of available evidence and highlights therapeutic strategies emerging from the research.