We all know from the Britney / KFed hype that it's not okay to divorce someone through a text message. But what about using text and IM to solve other relationship problems? Romance Tracker says that IM can be a great form of communication for couples that are in trouble. Often, couples get into relationship patterns that make it difficult to talk without fighting; IM lets you say everything in "real time" without having to conform to that pattern. Sometimes this is just what couples need to do to really be able to hear each other.



And of course, IM and text can be great for relationships in positive times as well. Sending sexy text messages can let your partner know that you're thinking about him or her. And having a five minute IM conversation on your lunch breaks can help you to keep those lines of communication open all day long. If you and your partner met online, it's natural to keep some of that computer conversation going even after you've been together for awhile. Just make sure that it supplements your in-person communication instead of replacing it!