Prof. Dr. Hatice Kumcağız, Head of the Guidance and Psychological Counseling Department at the Department of Educational Sciences within the Faculty of Education at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), made striking statements regarding the impact of social media on marriage.

Prof. Dr. Hatice Kumcağız emphasized that social media creates jealousy between couples, which can harm marriages. She also noted that while social media plays a partial role in divorce, it can also facilitate communication between partners.

“It leads to the deterioration of marriages”

Stating that the glamorous lives portrayed on social media contribute to the deterioration of marriages, Prof. Dr. Hatice Kumcağız said:

“Research shows that individuals in Türkiye spend between 3 to 5 hours on social media daily. In such cases, couples may spend long periods together in the same house, in the same room, even on the same couch, yet while they are physically together, they are not emotionally connected. Over time, this can lead to a breakdown in relationships. It damages the unity of marriage and causes spouses to drift apart. Couples begin to compare their own marriages with the seemingly perfect lives on social media, and when they realize that their own relationships do not reflect this image, it gradually leads to wear and tear in the relationship.”

“Social media creates feelings of jealousy”

Highlighting that social media leads spouses to compare themselves with others, Kumcağız stated:

“Content shared on social media can gradually lead to feelings of jealousy between spouses. Likes from others, notes left in stories, and comments from third parties can cause partners to develop negative thoughts toward each other. Comparisons between spouses can, over time, push couples toward a process that may ultimately weaken and even end the marriage.”

“Social media has indirect effects on divorce”

Referring to official data, Prof. Dr. Hatice Kumcağız said:

“According to TÜİK data, the divorce rate in 2025 increased by 2.26 per thousand. When evaluated over the past 25 years, this represents a relatively high rate. Of course, social media is not a direct cause of these divorces, but it does have indirect effects that can contribute to the breakdown of marriages.”

“Social media also has positive aspects”

Emphasizing that social media should not be perceived solely as negative, Hatice Kumcağız stated:

“Social media should not always be described as something negative; I would not want such a perception to form. For example, couples who live apart for long periods or work in different cities can communicate messages such as ‘I am thinking of you, I care about you, I love you’ through messages and videos. This can make a meaningful contribution to communication between partners.”

“Social media is like a knife”

Stressing the importance of conscious use, Kumcağız said:

“The fundamental rule here is to draw a boundary between the digital world and the real world. For this, social media detox periods can be implemented. Social media should not be used during family time, especially at dinner or in the bedroom. In short, I would like to say this: Social media is like a knife; you can use it to cut bread, or you can cut your hand.”