Banyuetan, a Chinese magazine, published their research on couples, and claimed that the presence of social media has not brought couples closer.[Photo/Xinhua]

Liu, a mother to a seven-year-old daughter as well as a massage therapist in her mid 20s, said she often felt "bored to tears” and that idle chat with random people she encountered on Momo kept her entertained. She described exchanging messages with men in the vicinity, and sharing "nice photos", which she preferred to keep secret from her husband.

"I would never use social media in front of my husband because it would cause too many arguments," Liu told the magazine.

Some experts have posited different explanation for the rising divorce rate.

Li Hongxiang, a professor of law in Jinlin University, said that Chinese people have stopped thinking of marriage as “until death do us part” in recent years. A weakening idea of marriage has led to more divorces.

Others attribute it to people’s changing expectations. Some respondents cited low EQ, or sexual incompatibly as possible grounds for divorce.

Liu Liping, a psychological consultant in Beijing, said based on his experience 40 per cent of divorces are now caused by extramarital sex.

Liu Ning, researcher from Shanxi, said the large number of migrant workers who leave their homes to work in China's big cities, often experience a change in attitude, or find the strains of maintaining a long-term relationship too much, turning to mistresses for solace.