At some point in your internet life you probably realized that Facebook and social media may not always be the best thing for you. You have probably also noticed that being on Facebook is all the worse after you've gone through a breakup. It's a smart instinct. According to a recent study, stalking an ex on Facebook disrupts the process of detaching yourself from that person.
It's not exactly surprising news, but I guess the fact that it's quantifiable is a pretty big deal. Tara Marshall, a psychology lecturer at Brunel University London, shared the results of her study on Quartz. The research shows that one third of Facebook users in relationships check up on their significant other "very often." The same percentage of people admitted to looking at their ex's profile at least once a week.
"I found that this sort of surveillance was associated with greater distress over the breakup, protracted longing for an ex-partner, more negative feelings towards and sexual desire for the ex, and lower personal growth," Marshall revealed.
If you think of your own behavior—and I'm thinking of mine—you can definitely see how stalking your ex can lead to this sort of disruption in what should be a natural process.
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