Married couples who meet online are six-times more likely to divorce within the first three decades than those who meet their partners via more traditional routes.
Research has found that 12 per cent of couples who met over the internet did not make their leather – third – anniversary, compared to just two per cent who found love via family or friends.
The Marriage Foundation reports that online relationships are more at risk of divorcing because they could be’relative acquaintances’ when they get married.
Couples who meet online are six times as likely to divorce in the first three years of marriage than those who meet through more traditional routes (stock photo).
Harry Benson is the foundation’s research director. He stated, “Gathering reliable information regarding the long-term personality of the person that you are dating or marrying, is quite obviously more difficult than for couples who meet online without input form mutual friends, or other communities.”
“For online couples, stronger social bonds between friends and families must be formed from scratch rather than being established over years or decades.
“It is not surprising that family, friends and co-workers can help reduce the chance of making a mistake.”
The report included 2,000 respondents who were married at least 30 years old. Seventeen percent of those who met online divorced within the first ten years, compared with ten percent of those who met their love through a social network.
Based on data from Savanta ComRes Market Research, the report also argues that couples who meet via personal connections have more “social capital”, which is defined as a network of friends and family with similar values and beliefs.
According to the study, groups with high social capital are more likely to function well because they have shared goals and provide informal support.
Kate Ryan, a partner with the legal firm IBB Law, stated that “The first few years of marriage are difficult, especially if there are children.” This can prove fatal for a couple if they don’t get to know each other well enough before embarking on a life together.
‘If you meet online you might miss out on this important background or the time to get to know each other.
Research has found that 12 per cent of couples who met over the internet did not make their leather – third – anniversary, compared to just two per cent who found love via family or friends (stock image)
Sara Davison, a divorce coach, helps couples to deal with relationship problems.
“But quite often these people have rose colored glasses on because it is their desperate desire to find someone who is OK.
Researchers predict that by 2035, more than 50% of people will meet their spouses through dating apps or websites.
Mr Benson stated that the findings did not diminish online dating’s vital role in expanding the marriage market. However, it highlighted the difficulties of getting to get to know someone without reliable background information.