Sexting Costs Another Marriage

‘Sexting’ has taken off as one of the newest trends, and with the popularity of phones like the Blackberry, romance by text message is for many couples, the new form of love expression.

‘Sexting’ can involve flirtatious conversations and sending of risqué pictures. Although many see this as innocent talk, the issue is great enough to end marriages, as is suspected in the Longoria/Parker divorce.

‘Sexting’ is fine between couples who are together, but the problems arise when a third party, or other parties, become involved, St Elizabeth reverend and counsellor Miguel Serju said.

“We generally understand that with technology, couples will seek new and non-traditional ways of staying affectionate, but sometimes one partner goes outside, and engages in flirting with another person, then the problems start,” Serju, who counsels couples for marriage, said.

He explained that often, the ’sexting’ party thinks the act is innocent, since things don’t get physical.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  A man I spoke with said that sexting by email or text message is even more damaging to his relationship than the actual sex.  “I could understand and actually get over if my wife just had a drunken night where her pants came off,” said the successful suburban Philadelphia father, “but the torrid emails and text messages are harder to wipe out of your mind.”

“Emotional cheating is just as harmful as physical cheating,” Serju said. “Once you allow a third party in the relationship, it means that you cheat your partner out of all your time and emotions.”