<![CDATA[In Gorontalo, more than 600 divorce verdicts were issued in 2022, primarily due to the weakening of marital commitment. This study explores the shifting orientations in divorce patterns among Muslim families in Gorontalo. Two major transformations are identified: (1) Attitudinal shifts—social media platforms are often misused as tools for online infidelity; and (2) Behavioral shifts—the ideal of marriage as a sacred, enduring union grounded in divine values has been reduced to a mere social contract, easily nullified. This research aims to describe the evolving patterns of divorce among Muslim couples in Gorontalo using a field-based qualitative method. Data were collected through direct observation and in-depth interviews with divorced or divorcing Muslim couples. An empirical approach was employed to investigate the socio-cultural and technological factors influencing divorce, with a particular focus on court decisions from the Gorontalo Religious Court. The findings indicate that divorce patterns in Muslim families in Gorontalo have undergone significant changes, driven by two interrelated causes. First, the pervasive influence of social media has accelerated the internalization of materialistic and consumerist values, which in turn has dulled moral sensibilities and altered attitudes and behaviors within marriage. Second, social media has contributed to a shift in divorce typology—from talaq-based divorce (initiated by the husband) to contested divorce (initiated by the wife). This marks a transformation in agency and marital dynamics, wherein women increasingly assert their legal right to dissolve unsatisfactory marital relationships.]]>
