UK News 01-09-2004 Internet Blamed For High Divorce Rate who: Relate what: Blames internet and long hours in the office for 3.9% increase in divorce rate when: Yesterday snippet: "The growth of text messaging and popularity of internet reunion sites were blamed yesterday for a rise in the divorce rate, which is at a seven-year high," says The Independent. "The 2003 total of 153,490 is an increase of 3.9 per cent on the previous year and is the third successive yearly increase, according to figures released yesterday by the Office of National Statistics," says The Financial Times. "But it is still nearly 12,000 below the record set in 1993." "For women, divorce is highest among those aged 25 to 29," says The Telegraph. "Divorce for men peaks among the 30-34 age group... The growing rate undermines the theory that, because fewer people are marrying, those who do are more committed to making the relationship last." "Relationship experts at Relate said the increasing number of people going to websites like Friends Reunited to look up old partners was having an impact," says the BBC. "Long hours at the office made couples more likely to grow apart - and gave more opportunity for internet romance." [... more]

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