At the end of the year or the beginning of a new year people seem to think it’s a good time to “clean house” and break up with someone they’re in a relationship with but whom they’re not happy with or realize that the relationship is going nowhere. They want to start the new year with a clean slate, so to speak.

Ending a relationship used to be a private matter and one handled personally. But if you’re a coward and don’t have the guts and not up to the dirty deed yourself, the Breakup Shop will do it for you. The site, whose slogan is “Let us help you end it,” uses email, snail mail, text or Snapchat. They charge $5 to $80 for customized options.

Changes in Facebook relationship statuses that mentioned “breakup” revealed a peak in the two weeks before Christmas. It’s always been possible to “unfriend” someone on Facebook, but the company’s new “breakup flow” allows you to limit your connection with an exuntagging photos, getting rid of past posts and edition any mention of your news feed. For now the breakup flow is available only in the United States, only on mobile devices and only for a random test group.

Maintaining even limited social media ties is a mistake and unhealthy. It may lead to cyberstalking and ex’s activities and new relationships.

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