Anything that you post on social media can come back to haunt you in your divorce. Navigating a divorce can be difficult, especially if you're in the midst of a particularly messy divorce battle. However, it is imperative that you are mindful of what you say and do on social media during this time.
If you're careful and have the patience to be able to remain away from social media networks for a while, you may make yourself a lot less susceptible to doing something that could potentially lead to lasting consequences.
How Social Media is a Threat During Divorce
When you post something online during your divorce it can be used against you. Status updates, pictures, comments, and messages could all be used as evidence to portray you in a negative light.
For example, if you post an image of yourself attending a party during your divorce proceedings, it could impact child custody matters. If your ex is talking to his or her lawyer and is trying to portray you as an "unfit" parent, the last thing you want is to provide possible proof. Even if the photo does not show anything negative or harmful, the court may think otherwise.
Images are in no way the sole hazard associated with social media use. You also have to closely supervise any comments you make. You don't want to say anything that can be incriminating in any way. It can be detrimental to give away any details that may pertain to your case.
Best Social Media Practices During Divorce
Because your social presence can negatively impact your case, it may be a good idea to either take some time off of social media or even deleting your accounts. If you don't want to commit to deleting your social accounts, you can temporarily set them to "private" mode as well.
However, keep in mind that deleting or setting your social media profiles to private does not mean that it can no longer be used against you. Nothing is ever truly gone from the Internet, and old posts and pictures can possibly be found. With a private account, your future ex-spouse could still find ways to access your profile, especially if you still have mutual friends.
The best practice is to keep quiet online, but this can be hard to do when you are going through the divorce process. Social media is a major way people communicate, and when you are going through a divorce it’s common to feel alone. Many turn to social media to vent their frustrations and to find support. To protect yourself though, it’s best to refrain from posting or interacting with others online until your divorce is finalized.
If you are concerned about your divorce, call O'Malley Law Office, LLC today at (570) 284-3551 to set up a consultation with our Clarks Summit divorce attorney.