As to flirting, yeah, if cybersex is essentially online flirting (with the likelihood of masturbation) then I’d expect many people would deem that unacceptable behaviour in their partners, definitely. But, I don’t think a lawyer would make an adultery charge slapped on divorce proceedings stick on that basis, at least not under English law.

They certainly couldn’t if it were real-life flirting, a French kiss, or even heavy petting. Oral sex, intercourse, and probably mutual masturbation definitely would. I think different sectors in society draw different lines between different practices.

But a knee trembler in the store cupboard does what it says on the tin, whereas pretending to have sex via the internet does not…

If it weren’t a sexual activity, it wouldn’t arouse.

So, let’s get back to flirting. Flirting is basically insinuating the possibility of direct physical contact… What kind of contact depends on the expectations of the involved, which is related to the place where it happens, the age of the involved, etc.

So, let’s get back to virtual sex. First, of course, it’s a form of voyerism. For most people, it might be left at that.

When one seeks, though, virtual sex WITH another human being, then it strongly relates to flirting. You may not have any intention at all of doing anything, like a person flirting might not have any intention of going beyond flirting, but there IS the suggestion of the possibility of physical contact with the other person involved.

So, is it grounds for divorce? It sure is. It might not be more betrayal than flirting, but if a flirting person marries a person uncomfortable with that behavior, then that marriage is bound to be an unhappy one.