Turkey has stepped into what many describe as a new digital chapter in divorce law after a landmark appellate ruling confirmed that a spouse’s “likes” on other women’s social-media posts can be treated as behavior that harms marital trust. The decision, first reported by Habertürk, is now expected to guide similar cases in the future.
The case began in Kayseri, where a woman argued that her husband repeatedly liking other women’s photos amounted to disrespect, loss of trust, and a threat to their marriage. She sought 5,000 Turkish lira in alimony and more than 500,000 lira in material damages.
The local court found the husband to be “seriously at fault” for the breakdown of the marriage and ordered him to pay 40,000 lira in both material and moral compensation, in addition to 750 lira in monthly alimony. Although the husband appealed, the higher court upheld the woman’s claims—slightly reducing the compensation but increasing the monthly alimony to 1,000 lira.
In its widely discussed conclusion, the court ruled:
“Liking is not infidelity in itself, but it can have a psychological impact that undermines marital trust.”
This precedent signals that Turkish courts may now consider digital interactions—likes, comments, reposts, and other online behaviors—when evaluating marital loyalty and assigning compensation. Legal experts say the ruling is likely to shape a growing number of family disputes, making digital activity a significant form of evidence.
The decision also fuels broader cultural debate in Turkey over the boundaries of online conduct and how much virtual engagement should influence real-life relationships—questions that remain open for now.
