LONDON – Digital dumping is on the rise, according to a survey, with growing numbers of people preferring to use email and social networking Web sites to break up with their partners.

Over one third of 2,000 people polled (34%) said they had ended a relationship by email, 13% had changed their status on Facebook without telling their partners and 6% had released the news unilaterally on Twitter.

By contrast, only 2% had broken up via a mobile phone text.

The rest had split up the old-fashioned way by face-to-face conversation (38%) and by telephone (8%).

"Digital Dumping will soon take over when it comes to ending a relationship," said Sean Wood, Marketing Manager for DateTheUk dating service for whom the survey was carried out.

"It's often easier, quicker and avoids any misunderstandings."