Turkey’s High Court Says Husband’s Social Media “Likes” Count As Cheating

In the long and messy history of relationship arguments, few topics ignite faster than this one: Why did you like her photo? 

In a landmark ruling, Turkey’s highest court has decided that liking another woman’s social media posts can be used as evidence in divorce proceedings – officially elevating the humble double tap into a legal matter.

Yes, really.

According to a ruling by the Turkish Court of Cassation, (officially called the Supreme Court of Appeals of the Republic of Turkey) repeatedly liking photos of other women on social media can be interpreted as behaviour that “undermines marital trust.” 

The decision stemmed from a divorce case involving a couple from Kayseri, a major city in central Türkiye, and it has since reignited a global debate around digital boundaries, micro-cheating, and how online behaviour bleeds into offline relationships.

The case that made Instagram a legal exhibit

Both parties – identified as S.B. (the husband) and H.B. (the wife) – filed for divorce. According to a report by the New York Post, the wife accused her husband of belittling her, failing to provide adequate financial support, and breaching his duty of loyalty by interacting with other women’s social media posts.

The husband, for his part, denied wrongdoing and countered with accusations of his own. He claimed his wife insulted his father, displayed excessive jealousy, and shared offensive comments online. After reviewing the evidence – which reportedly included the husband’s social media activity – the court concluded that he was more at fault for the breakdown of the marriage. He was ordered to pay damages and spousal support.

As reported by Tyla, the Turkish Court of Cassation found that a man who repeatedly likes photos of other women “undermines trust” within a marriage. The husband appealed the ruling, but the appellate court upheld the original decision.

The wife was reportedly awarded 30,000 Turkish lira in material compensation and a further 30,000 lira for “moral damage,” alongside monthly alimony payments of 1,000 lira. While she had initially sought significantly higher compensation, the ruling itself marked a significant legal precedent.

Is a ‘like’ cheating – or just data?

To be clear, the court did not explicitly label social media likes as infidelity. Instead, it recognised them as behavioural evidence – digital actions that can signal disrespect, emotional betrayal, or a breach of trust when viewed in context.

And context is everything in the age of algorithmic intimacy. Social platforms are not passive tools. They are engineered systems designed to reward engagement, visibility, and repetition. Likes are tracked, timestamped, and algorithmically amplified. What may feel casual to one partner can feel intentional – even obsessive – to another.

Psychologists and relationship experts have been warning for years that digital behaviour carries emotional weight. Dr. Jaclyn Gulotta, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, writing for Choosing Therapy, explained just how blurred these lines can become, “Social media is part of everyday life and relationships, so liking people’s pictures on different platforms is not uncommon.” 

“Your boyfriend’s reasons for liking women’s pictures on Instagram and social media may range from innocent displays of friendship to instances of micro cheating and infidelity. When your partner likes people’s pictures on Instagram, you may feel jealous or develop insecurities that impact your self-esteem, especially if it crosses your personal boundaries. This behavior can even be categorized as an online affair, depending on previously defined relationship boundaries,” explained Dr. Gulotta.

The tech problem at the heart of modern love

What makes this ruling particularly fascinating is its implicit acknowledgment of technology as an active participant in relationships. Likes are not fleeting glances; they are recorded signals. They feed algorithms, resurface content, and often lead to further digital interactions – follows, DMs, recommendations. In other words, social media platforms turn desire into data.

Dr. Gulotta highlights that intent matters just as much as action, “If you like an ex’s picture and know this behavior would be unacceptable to your partner, it becomes inappropriate and deceitful. Secretly liking your ex’s pictures on Instagram is even further evidence that you are doing something that you know is unethical or hurtful towards your partner.”

In Turkey’s ruling, the court appeared to agree. The issue was not a single like, but a pattern – repeated engagement that, when viewed collectively, suggested disregard for the relationship’s emotional boundaries.

Boundaries, not blanket bans

Importantly, experts stress that not all likes are inherently problematic. What matters is whether boundaries were discussed and mutually agreed upon.

As Dr. Gulotta writes, “To be considered a normal act in a relationship, both partners would have expressed their acceptance in the beginning of the relationship and agreed on what is permissible. If you and your current partner are both friends with your ex, or if you have a mutual understanding of what is considered acceptable with your ex, then liking their pictures may be tolerated and even normal. When one partner breaks this agreement, they violate previously established boundaries and deceive their partner.”

This is where technology complicates things. Platforms do not distinguish between an innocent like and a loaded one – they simply record the interaction. Courts, however, are increasingly willing to interpret digital trails as insight into intent and behaviour.

When thirst traps meet legal systems

The most culturally loaded aspect of this ruling is how it intersects with global conversations around “thirst traps,” parasocial interaction, and online validation economies.

Dr. Gulotta addresses this head-on, “Your boyfriend liking other women’s bikini pictures on Instagram may be considered normal if your boyfriend is liking a family member’s or close friend’s photo, or if you have previously agreed that this is acceptable. However, if your boyfriend is seeking out women specifically in bikinis just to view and like, it is understandable to feel hurt and betrayed… Dealing with your boyfriend liking women’s bikini photos can make you feel insecure and worried that there is something more going on.”

The Turkish court’s decision doesn’t criminalise desire – but it does recognise that digital behaviour leaves emotional fingerprints.

The Modems Verdict:

This ruling doesn’t mean every Instagram like is a legal landmine. But it does signal a shift: courts are increasingly fluent in digital culture, and social media is no longer seen as separate from “real life.”

As technology continues to mediate intimacy, relationships will be judged not just by what happens behind closed doors – but by what happens in public feeds, algorithmic logs, and online patterns of attention.

So if you’re in Türkiye – or simply navigating love in the age of screenshots – consider this your reminder: the internet never forgets, and apparently, neither do the courts.