* More than a third of people now trust AI with personal secrets over their own partner, with many saying it feels less judgemental and emotionally safer.
* Brits are confiding in AI about relationship doubts, sexual fantasies, thoughts of cheating and even past affairs – conversations they avoid having at home.
* Experts warn that while AI offers a consequence‑free space to open up, relying on it instead of honest communication could deepen cracks in real‑world relationships.
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

Brits are now more likely to confide in artificial intelligence than the person they share a bed with. And, it seems the biggest threat to communication in relationships might not be another person – but a robot.

A new poll of 1,800 members of IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, has revealed that more than a third (38%) would rather share a personal secret with AI than open up to their partner.

In fact, 27% admit they’ve already told an AI chatbot something deeply personal that they have never confessed to their other half.

And it’s not just convenience driving the trend. One in five (21%) say they feel “less judged” by AI than they do by their partner – suggesting that for some, a machine feels safer than a marriage.

So what exactly are people telling these bots? The most common confession involves relationship doubts, with 44% admitting they’ve turned to AI to vent about concerns regarding their partner instead of addressing the issue directly at home.

More than a third (36%) say they’ve used AI to discuss their sexual fantasies – conversations they felt uncomfortable initiating with their partner.

Meanwhile, 31% have confided in AI about thoughts of cheating, and 22% say they’ve opened up about regrets over past affairs rather than revisiting those conversations with the person they’re with.

One married mother-of-two from Surrey, who asked to remain anonymous, says she turned to AI after struggling to open up to her husband of 15 years. “I love my husband, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I’d been having doubts about our future. Every time I tried, I’d see his face fall and I’d bottle it. So I typed it into ChatGPT instead. It felt ridiculous at first – pouring my heart out to a robot. But it didn’t interrupt, didn’t get defensive, didn’t look hurt. It just… listened. I know it’s not real, but it was just good to talk about my feelings openly.”

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, says the results reflect a growing emotional shift. “AI doesn’t roll its eyes, raise its voice or bring up something you said three years ago,” she said. “For many people, that makes it feel like a safer space to explore uncomfortable thoughts.”

She believes the appeal lies in the absence of consequence. “When you confess something to your partner, it can change the dynamic of the relationship. There are emotional repercussions. With AI, there’s no fallout. No hurt feelings. No awkward silence.”

But Leoni warns that relying on technology instead of communication could deepen existing cracks. “Using AI as a sounding board isn’t necessarily harmful,” she explained. “In fact, it can sometimes help people organise their thoughts. The problem comes when it replaces honest dialogue rather than preparing you for it.”

She adds that the types of secrets people are sharing are particularly telling. “Relationship doubts, sexual fantasies, thoughts about cheating – these are exactly the conversations that could save a relationship if handled well. But people are too scared to have them. They’d rather test the waters with a robot than risk real vulnerability with a human. And that’s a tragedy.”

Results
What have you confided in AI about rather than speaking with your partner?

Relationship doubts – 44%
Sexual fantasies – 36%
Thoughts about cheating – 31%
Regrets about past affairs – 22%
General relationship advice – 20%
Other – 8%

* New research reveals Brits are far more forgiving of digital slip‑ups than physical or emotional betrayals.

* Liking photos and harmless crushes top the list, while emotional affairs rank as the hardest to excuse.

* Experts say the findings show how modern couples draw very different lines between impulsive mistakes and deeper breaches of trust.

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

New research has revealed the nation’s surprisingly forgiving hierarchy when it comes to infidelity – and it turns out not all cheating is created equal.

The poll of 2,000 Brits conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, asked respondents to choose the single most forgivable form of cheating from a list of seven common betrayals. 

At the softer end of the scale, liking photos on social media emerged as the most forgivable behaviour, with 29% of people saying they could let it slide. 

18% said they could forgive their partner for having a crush on a work colleague, suggesting that fleeting feelings are seen as human – as long as they don’t turn into action.

Things became murkier when digital behaviour turned more intimate. Flirty texting with an ex was considered forgivable by 15%, while having a dating app profile – even without meeting anyone – was acceptable to 14% of respondents. 

Physical cheating proved harder to excuse. Kissing someone else was seen as forgivable by 11%, but only 9% said they could move past a one‑night stand or sex with someone else. 

The least forgivable act of all was an emotional affair, with only 4% saying they’d be able to look past it.

Sex and relationship expert at IllicitEncounters.com, Jessica Leoni, believes the findings highlight how differently people define betrayal. “Cheating isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept anymore,” she said. “For some couples, liking a photo is meaningless. For others, it’s the start of a slippery slope. What this research shows is that people draw their red lines in very different places.”

She added that emotional infidelity can sometimes cut deeper than physical acts.“Many people see sex as a moment of weakness, particularly if alcohol or circumstance is involved,” Jessica explained. “But emotional affairs require time, secrecy and sustained investment. That’s often why they feel more threatening – they suggest a partner’s attention and affection are being redirected.”

One 34-year-old woman from Manchester, who asked not to be named, said she chose to forgive her husband after he admitted to a drunken one-night stand.

“It was devastating at first,” she said. “But when we talked it through, I realised it hadn’t been about feelings – it was a stupid decision in a single moment. What would have hurt more is if he’d been confiding in someone else for months behind my back.”

Leoni added that forgiveness often depends on context. “People are more likely to forgive something they can rationalise,” she said. “If it feels impulsive, they may see it as salvageable. But if it feels calculated or emotionally invested, it can be harder to come back from.”

Results

Which of these do you consider the most forgivable?

• Liking photos on social media 29%
• Having a crush on a work colleague 18%
• Flirty texting with an ex 15%
• Having a dating app profile 14%
• Kissing someone else 11%
• Sex with someone else 9%
• An emotional affair 4%

* Nearly half of Valentine’s break-ups happen on ‘Red Tuesday’, with 49% choosing the day to end things before romance (and spending) kicks in.

* Money, guilt and emotional burnout are driving the split, as 41% dump partners to avoid Valentine’s costs and 38% admit they’re tired of faking affection.

* Most break-ups aren’t impulsive – over 80% had been planning it for days or longer, with after-work dumps the most common timing.

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

Tomorrow marks Red Tuesday – the day Brits are statistically most likely to call time on their relationship as Valentine’s Day looms.

New research from IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, reveals that the Tuesday before Valentine’s Day (10th February) is the single most popular day of the year to get dumped, as thousands of Brits perform a last-minute romantic U-turn to avoid the most amorous day of the year.

A poll of 1,500 members found that more than a third (34%) admit they have ended a relationship in the run-up to Valentine’s Day. Of those, almost half (49%) said they deliberately chose Red Tuesday to do it, making it the single most popular dumping day of the year.

So why are so many couples calling it quits just days before the most romantic date on the calendar?

Money plays a major role. Over two-fifths (41%) said they broke up to avoid the expense of Valentine’s Day altogether, admitting they didn’t want to splash out on gifts, meals or experiences for a relationship they knew wasn’t going anywhere.

Emotional honesty also came into play. 38% said they were tired of pretending everything was fine, while 29% admitted they no longer wanted to fake affection for the sake of one more “romantic” day.

Others saw Valentine’s Day as a line in the sand. Nearly a quarter (24%) said they wanted a clean slate before spring, while 19% confessed that guilt over seeing someone else pushed them to finally end things.

Timing, it seems, is everything – even when it comes to breakups. The poll found that most Red Tuesday splits happen at the end of the working day, with 37% ending things after work. Mornings accounted for 26% of breakups, while 21% happened at lunchtime. Just 16% waited until late at night, suggesting fewer people want to lie awake stewing after delivering bad news.

For many, deciding to call it quits wasn’t exactly spontaneous. Only 18% said they made the decision to end their relationship on that very day. A third (34%) had been planning it for a few days, 27% had sat on the decision for a week, and 21% admitted they’d been thinking about breaking up for much longer.

One member, Sarah*, 35, from Manchester, says Red Tuesday gave her the push she needed. “I knew by January that the relationship was over, but Valentine’s Day hanging over us made it feel urgent,” she says. “I didn’t want to sit through a forced dinner pretending we were happy. Ending it before felt brutal, but also like a relief.”

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, says Red Tuesday is all about timing and avoidance. “Valentine’s Day puts a spotlight on relationships, and not everyone likes what it shows,” she explains. “For many people, it forces a moment of honesty they’ve been avoiding.”

She adds: “There’s also a very practical side to it. People don’t want to spend money, make grand gestures or post loved-up photos when they know their heart isn’t in it. Red Tuesday becomes the moment they rip the plaster off and move on – even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Leoni says the surge in breakups shouldn’t come as a surprise. “Valentine’s Day is about commitment and affection. If a relationship is already on shaky ground, that pressure can be the final straw.”

* Name has been changed

Results
Reasons for breaking up before Valentine’s Day:
To avoid the expense of Valentine’s Day – 41%
No longer wanting to fake affection – 38%
Wanting to start fresh before spring – 24%
Feeling guilty about seeing someone else – 19%

What time of day did you end the relationship?
Morning – 26%
Lunchtime – 21%
After work – 37%
Late at night – 16%

How long had you been planning the breakup?
Same day – 18%
A few days – 34%
A week – 27%
Longer – 21%

* Labour voters top the infidelity table, with over a quarter (26%) admitting to having had an affair.

* Reform UK supporters are revealed as the nation’s most faithful, with a mere 5% confessing to cheating.

* Politics is a passion-killer for many, as 27% say political rows at home have pushed their relationship to breaking point.

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

New research suggests that a voter’s choice at the ballot box might predict more than just their views on the economy – it could reveal their likelihood of staying faithful.

A survey involving 2,400 members of the UK’s largest affairs site IllicitEncounters.com blew the lid off voters’ private lives, revealing a steamy political divide. 

Topping the cheat charts, a whopping 26% of Labour voters admitted to being unfaithful to a partner, leaving Tory voters in the dust at 18%, and Lib Dems trailing at 15%.

Green voters also showed a surprisingly spicy streak, with 14% admitting to infidelity. But at the other end of the table, Reform UK supporters emerged as the most faithful of all, with just 5% saying they’ve cheated on their partner – making them statistically the least likely to hop into bed with someone else.

The poll also revealed that nearly a third (24%) of people say they’d be more tempted to cheat with someone who shares their political views, whilst 27% say political rows at home have pushed their relationship to breaking point.

​​Serial cheater Mark*, 38, a Labour-voting Londoner, says he’s just following party orders. “I live my life by the slogan ‘For the Many, Not the Few’, so why should I just stick to one woman? That sounds a bit like a monopoly to me.

If being a ‘love rat’ is wrong, I don’t want to be right. I’m just a ‘progressive’ in the streets and a ‘revolutionary’ in the sheets!”

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, says the biggest shock isn’t Labour topping the table – it’s who’s at the bottom.

“Let’s be honest – if you’d asked people to guess which voters were the most faithful, very few would have put Reform UK at the top,” she says. “Yet here they are, miles ahead of everyone else.”

She adds: “Labour voters are out there living up to their passionate reputation, the Tories are quietly misbehaving in the background… and Reform supporters are apparently staying home with a cup of tea. Who knew?”

Results
Voters most likely to cheat on their partner

Labour voters – 26% admit to having cheated on a partner.
Conservative voters – 18%
Liberal Democrat voters – 15%
Green Party voters – 14%
SNP voters – 10%
Plaid Cymru voters – 8%
Reform UK voters – 5%
Other – 4%