Social Media and your Divorce

Almost all of us use social media on a daily basis. It is where we document our lives, celebrate our victories, and vent our frustrations. A divorce and the months that follow can be a very frustrating time for anybody, and it can be tempting to post about your divorce on social media. But do not do it. When you are working through a divorce, it is always in your best interest to keep the divorce completely separate from your social media activity.

How your Social Media Activity can be Used Against you

When you post on social media, it can be taken out of context. For example, a photograph of you drinking at a bar can be used to support a claim that you drink excessively. Of course, one photograph will not make a case that you are an alcoholic, but that one photograph can be part of a larger claim that your drinking impedes your ability to provide a safe, stable environment for your children.

Another way social media can be used in a divorce case is catching an individual in a lie. If you claimed that you are unemployed, but post about your “off the books” job on social media, the court will not only see that you are untrustworthy, but that you do actually have an income. Another example is if you lied about where you were at a certain time, such as claiming you were on a work trip when you were actually with an affair partner – tags can tell your spouse and others exactly where you were and when you were there.

What to Do, What Not to Do

While your divorce is pending, there are a few things you should not do on social media:

• Accuse your spouse of wrongdoing or “call him or her out” for wrongdoing in your marriage;
• Harass your spouse or his or her friends or relatives;
• Post about the divorce’s progress, including the settlement you hope to achieve;
• Similarly, avoid engaging with harassers on social media. If you receive threatening or harassing messages, block the senders without responding to their posts or messages; and
• Do not log into your partner’s social media accounts to look for evidence to support any claim you hope to make. This is a violation of his or her privacy.

As for what you should do on social media while you are working through a divorce, the following can serve you well:

• Abide by the “grandma rule.” If you would not want your grandmother to see a specific post of yours, do not share it on social media;
• Avoid oversharing about your life and the divorce on social media. Keep your discussions about the divorce between yourself and your lawyer and your venting to face-to-face meetings with friends; and
• Consider limiting the time you spend on social media. Social media use can have a negative impact on your mental health. Use the time you would normally spend browsing social media to work out or do hobbies that make you happy. Instead of messaging with friends and relatives on social media, use that time to meet in person.

Work with Draper Law Office to Complete your Divorce

Social media is here to stay. Our team of experienced divorce lawyers at Draper Law Office can advise you about how to use social media in a smart, productive way while your divorce is pending and in the years that follow. Contact us online or at 866-767-4711 today to set up your free, no-obligation consultation in one of our two locations: Kissimmee, and Orlando.