Digital Dumping

"Digital Dumping" is a phrase that was introduced by UK based online dating company, EasyDate Ltd. on 23rd February 2010 to describe the ending of a relationship by electronic means including SMS text, email and social networking sites such as Facebook, twitter and MySpace.

The company carried out a survey of 2,000 members of their DatetheUK.com dating site and the results of this survey were distributed in a Press Release entitled ‘Digital Dumping on the rise’. This News Release was distributed in response to a news story that singer [Cheryl Cole|Cheryl_Cole] had ended her marriage to footballer Ashley Cole by sending him an SMS text.

The survey results showed; DateTheUK.com asked 2000 people (equal male female split) whose relationships had ended in the last year, how things had finished.

34% said their relationship had finished by email
13% said they had changed their status on Facebook, without telling their partner
6% had released the news on Twitter, without telling their partner
2% had used mobile phone text
Less than 1% had finished things in a chat room

The remainder of people asked had split up “the old fashioned way” by face to face conversation (38%) and telephone (8%).

Sean Wood, Marketing Manager for DateTheUK was quoted as saying: “Digital Dumping will soon take over when it comes to ending a relationship. It’s often easier, quicker and avoids any misunderstandings.”