It’s not surprising that social media networks can lead to rocky relationships. Sites like Facebook offer a veil of anonymity coupled with password-protected messaging and easy access to both. But while it might not come as a shock that Facebook is often considered a breeding ground for infidelity, interestingly enough the same holds true for Twitter.

A new study out of the University of Missouri, aptly called “The Third Wheel: The Impact of Twitter Use on Relationship Infidelity and Divorce, “suggests that Twitter-related conflicts lead to negative relationship outcomes such as cheating, breakup and divorce.

Doctoral student Russell Clayton, who’s also explored the effect of Facebook on relationships, surveyed 581 Twitter users of all ages, asking them about the frequency with which they take to Twitter, how they tweet and engage with the newsfeed, how they interact with others and how they respond to tweets and direct messages.

He then asked the Twitter users if, and how much, they fight with their significant other with questions like “How often do you have an argument with your current or former partner because of too much Twitter use?” He deduced that those who are more active on Twitter tend to have the most troubling relationships.

The major difference between those with troubled relationships due to Facebook and those with troubled relationships due to Twitter is that, pertaining to the former, there was a greater amount of adversity reported in newer relationships of 36 months or less. For Twitter, relationship length appears to have little or no bearing.

“I found it interesting that active Twitter users experienced Twitter-related conflict and negative relationship outcomes regardless of length of romantic relationship,” Clayton said. “Couples who reported being in relatively new relationships experienced the same amount of conflict as those in longer relationships.”

So there you have it, Boston. The relationship you have with any of your social media networks – whether with more expansive Facebook or 140-character Twitter – is likely not a healthy one. But that doesn’t mean it has to continue on that way.

“Although a number of variables can contribute to relationship infidelity and separation, social networking site usage, such as Twitter and Facebook use, can be damaging to relationships,” Clayton offered up. “Therefore, users should cut back to moderate, healthy levels of Twitter use if they are experiencing Twitter or Facebook – related conflict. Some couples share joint social networking site accounts to reduce relationship conflict, and there are some social networking site apps, such as the 2Life app, that facilitates interpersonal communication between partners.”