Facebook to blame for illicit flirting and marital affairs, according to new evidence.

Social networking site Facebook causes 1 in 5 online divorces, according to a recent claim by divorce lawyers.

With a staggering 800 million users logging into Facebook on a regular basis across the globe (equal to the population of the whole world only 250 years ago), you have to wonder what everyone’s really getting up to.

The site allows users to stay in touch with friends, find old ones and search for new ones. According to Mark Keenan, Managing Director of Divorce-Online, some users are getting very friendly indeed, with more and more people using the site to conduct extramarital affairs.

With adultery only a click away, having an inappropriate sexual chat with a stranger can be as easy as ordering a book from Amazon.

20% of online divorce petitions have cited unreasonable behaviour on Facebook as a cause for divorce. This disconcertingly high percentage could only be the tip of the iceberg, with many more illicit cyber relationships continuing unchecked.

Computer firms have cashed in on the rise in Facebook affairs. Now suspicious spouses can keep track of their partner’s Facebook habits by buying spy software to record all of their online activities.

One DIY detective, a 35-year-old conference organiser called Emma, only realised her husband was divorcing her when he updated his status to: ‘Neil Brady has ended is marriage to Emma Brady’.

Another woman, 28-year-old Amy, split from her partner David after discovering that he was ‘sleeping with’ an escort in the virtual life game ‘Second Life’.

Mr Keenan has predicted a soar in divorce rates over the next few years, with a combination of stress from the recession, and the easy accessibility of potential partners on Facebook.

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