Facebook was recently described to me as a 'pandora's box of trouble' for relationships.
In fact it's mentioned in about a quarter of all divorce papers today: which is one statistic you wouldn't want to 'like'.
The trouble is Facebook walks a dangerous line between real and virtual life.
It's real enough that when the girl you liked in school, sends you a message that you have a little flutter of 'what could have been'. Yet virtual enough to allow you to fire off a flirty message back without the guilt you may have had if it had been a conversation in the local.
Trouble is when you have a virtual life you also can start to have a double life.
That one off message can spiral into hours of chatting and before you know it you're hiding your screen from your real life partner.
If you think this may be you here's a great rule of thumb to avoid the pitfalls of an online fling- if you would delete that message you just sent so you partner can't see it- you're already in the danger zone.
So put your mobile phone down, shut off that laptop, take your partner out for a walk and remember how luscious real life is.
Hayley Quinn is a leading london dating coach. See what she does at hayleyquinn.com or get in touch with her at Hayley@hayleyquinn.com
READ more of Hayley's advice
- A change of scene could make you appreciate your relationship
- Ice maidens, it's time to thaw
- Think about yourself
- Dating is not like Dr Pepper
- Tips for commuters
- Get out of a dry spell
- How to tell if they are just not that into you
- Three very simple criteria on who is suitable to date
- Staying true to yourself
- Quit whining Mr Nice Guy
- How to get men to approach you
- Making small talk less like an interrogation
- Mastering eye contact
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