--- title: Twitter Causes Divorce Infidelity Missouri Study Says description: Study claims active Twitter use leads to confrontations that may catalyze divorce or infidelity canonical: https://time.com/51634/study-claims-people-who-use-twitter-a-lot-may-be-more-likely-to-cheat-and-get-divorced/ author: Olivia B. Waxman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-04-07T16:00:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:08:34.299Z og:title: People Who Frequently Use Twitter May Be More Likely to Cheat and Get Divorced og:description: A new study says active Twitter use leads to confrontations that may catalyze divorce or infidelity og:url: https://time.com/51634/study-claims-people-who-use-twitter-a-lot-may-be-more-likely-to-cheat-and-get-divorced/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d3e72ad31b85700/69868947169ab0b103278a6d/twitter-study-divorce-infidelity.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1500 og:image:height: 844 og:image:alt: twitter-study-divorce-infidelity og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: People Who Frequently Use Twitter May Be More Likely to Cheat and Get Divorced twitter:description: A new study says active Twitter use leads to confrontations that may catalyze divorce or infidelity twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d3e72ad31b85700/69868947169ab0b103278a6d/twitter-study-divorce-infidelity.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Study Claims People Who Frequently Use Twitter May Be More Likely to Cheat and Get Divorced > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=1a5b61f4-7ccf-4f64-b5b2-a764b4220157&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 | | Subscribers | 540,000 | TIME, August 2026 | | Open rate | 45.6% | TIME, August 2026 | | Click rate | 3.3% | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services. ### TIME The Brief: key statements * The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=1a5b61f4-7ccf-4f64-b5b2-a764b4220157&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=1a5b61f4-7ccf-4f64-b5b2-a764b4220157&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's daily news newsletter? The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It reaches 540,000 subscribers with a 45.6% open rate as of August 2026. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters. #### How do I sign up for The Brief? The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it. #### Is The Brief free? Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes The Brief? The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Apr 7, 2014 4:00 PM UTC  Getty Images  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Apr 7, 2014 4:00 PM UTC People who are active on Twitter are more likely to get involved in the types of confrontations that may eventually lead to infidelity and divorce, according to a study [published](http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cyber.2013.0570) online in the journal of _Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking_. The study [surveyed](http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2014/0407-twitter-use-linked-to-infidelity-and-divorce-mu-study-finds/) 581 Twitter users of all ages, gauging “active Twitter use” by answers to questions about how often they log into Twitter and tweet, how often they reply to tweets, direct message users, and scroll through the Twitter timeline. “If high amounts of Twitter use does, indeed, lead to high amounts of Twitter-related conflict (i.e., arguments pertaining to a partner’s Twitter use, etc.) among romantic partners, it is plausible to speculate that such conflict could lead to unfavorable relationship outcomes such as cheating, breakup, or divorce,” Russell B. Clayton, the study’s author and doctoral student at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, [concluded](http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cyber.2013.0570). And while a previous analysis conducted by Clayton found Facebook-related conflict was more detrimental to relationships that lasted three years or less, Clayton’s Twitter study claims Twitter-related conflict occurs regardless of duration. The findings have several limitations. The survey was promoted via the researcher’s Twitter account and The Huffington Post’s Twitter account, so the sample size skewed towards people who were following those accounts. Data may also be skewed because participants knew they were answering questions for a study about Twitter use and relationship outcomes. Incidentally, a recent [TIME article](http://time.com/9268/why-men-hide-their-feelings-behind-social-media/) found that some men are more likely to share their feelings on social networks than with their significant others because while they’re not ready to share certain thoughts with their partners, they post them online because they want “_someone_” to see them. Psychologists say these men, who tend to experience social anxiety, may also share these insights online because they are afraid of facing blowback in real life. But there may be hope. More and more, love begins on social networks like Facebook, according to a new [analysis](http://time.com/50402/facebook-the-new-marriage-matchmaker/). And a Pew Research Internet Project report [published](http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/11/couples-the-internet-and-social-media/) in February says 41% of 18-29 year olds in serious relationships feel online conversations have brought them closer together, with 23% of them say they have used “digital tools” to resolve an argument they were having trouble fixing in person. That said, the Pew findings also found “young adults are more likely to report tension in their relationships over technology use,” especially if they think their significant other is distracted or spending too much time online. “Some couples share joint social networking site accounts to reduce relationship conflict,” Clayton said in a [news release](http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2014/0407-twitter-use-linked-to-infidelity-and-divorce-mu-study-finds/), citing 2life, a private messaging app designed for couples. Maybe the preschool adage “sharing is caring” makes a good point? ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/51634/study-claims-people-who-use-twitter-a-lot-may-be-more-likely-to-cheat-and-get-divorced/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/51634/study-claims-people-who-use-twitter-a-lot-may-be-more-likely-to-cheat-and-get-divorced/"},"headline":"Study Claims People Who Frequently Use Twitter May Be More Likely to Cheat and Get Divorced","datePublished":"2014-04-07T16:00:56.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:08:34.299Z","description":"A new study says active Twitter use leads to confrontations that may catalyze divorce or infidelity","url":"https://time.com/51634/study-claims-people-who-use-twitter-a-lot-may-be-more-likely-to-cheat-and-get-divorced/","keywords":["Newsfeed","relationships"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d3e72ad31b85700/69868947169ab0b103278a6d/twitter-study-divorce-infidelity.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Olivia B. Waxman","jobTitle":"Staff Writer","url":"https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d3e72ad31b85700/69868947169ab0b103278a6d/twitter-study-divorce-infidelity.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"twitter-study-divorce-infidelity","caption":"","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/51634/study-claims-people-who-use-twitter-a-lot-may-be-more-likely-to-cheat-and-get-divorced/","name":"Study Claims People Who Frequently Use Twitter May Be More Likely to Cheat and Get Divorced"}}]}] ```