Stalking An Ex On Facebook Can Be Damaging
We’re all guilty of it, taking a quick look at our ex’s profiles to see how far they have, or haven’t, come after the split.
Unfortunately, what may seem like a little bit of harmless snooping could lead to emotional and psychological damage and keep you from moving on.
A study at Brunel University showed that as many as half of Facebook users, that’s more than half a billion of us, are using the site the spy on ex-lovers.
We’re all risking heart break by checking up on our ex, often to find that they have moved on.
Clicking on an ex’s profile to see they have a new partner or have been hanging out with friends that they got in the split is heart-wrenching but something most of us are willing to risk.
Dr Tara Marshall, the psychologist who led the study believes that all this constant surveillance we’re conducting on our old flames makes it all the more difficult to move on.
The study found that those who remained Facebook friends with an ex often took a lot longer to move on and suffered from emotional distress compared to those who chose to unfriend their ex.
Dr Tara said, “Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to an ex-partner through Facebook may obstruct the process of healing after a relationship.”
Facebook has been seen as a revolution and praised for the ability it gives to keep in contact with friends and family but even if you join with the best intentions it can be hard not to go into stalker mode.
Back in the days when social networking was unheard of, it was a lot harder to keep tabs on your ex but this also meant it was a lot easier to move.
Do you think Facebook is a blessing or a curse when it comes to relationships? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below or tweeting us @FemaleFirst_UK
Cara Mason
tagged in Facebook relationships relationship advice Exes