Relationship expert says 'unfriend' your partner on Facebook to stay together

NEW YORK (WPVI) -- Staying 'friends' on Facebook may be hurting your relationship, according to a New York-based psychotherapist.

Ian Kerner told PRI that couples who 'unfriend' each other on the social network are more likely to stay together.

The bottom line: Kerner said Facebook makes it easier to avoid face-to-face conversations.

A 2014 study by Pew Research found that 25 percent of cellphone owners in a marriage or partnership have felt their spouse or partner was distracted by their cellphone when they were together.

Technology hasn't necessarily hurt all parts of relationships, though.

The study also found that 'sexting' - the sending of a sexually suggestive nude or nearly-nude photos or video via cellphone - has gone up. In 2014, 9 percent of cellphone users said they sexted someone compared with 6 percent two years earlier.