A NEW STUDY has shown that Facebook has become a major source of evidence in divorce cases in the US, The Guardian reports.

The survey, carried out by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), showed that as many as one in five divorces involved evidence gathered from the social networking site.

Over 80 per cent of the 1,600 lawyers that took part in the study said they had noticed an increase in the use of social media in divorce proceedings. Two-thirds said that Facebook was the “primary source”, with 14 per cent citing MySpace and 5 per cent citing Twitter.

In a statement issued this week, AAML president Marlene Eskind Moses warned against publicly posting anything that may be used against you in the event of divorce:

Going through a divorce always results in heightened levels of personal scrutiny. If you publicly post any contradictions to previously made statements and promises, an estranged spouse will certainly be one of the first people to notice and make use of that evidence.

Olivia, from Abate Counselling Ireland, told TheJournal.ie that social networking was also having an impact in this country. “As well as leading to relationship problems because of infidelity”, she said,  “addiction to websites such as Facebook is also leading to difficulties between couples.”