Social media is a constant presence in the life of most people – adults and children alike. When parties are going through a divorce, it is important to understand the role that social media can play, and often, if social media is not handled carefully, it may have negative consequences.
Think before you post
The golden rule during a divorce or custody case is to think carefully before posting anything on social media. Even seemingly innocent posts can be misconstrued or used against you in legal proceedings. Avoid discussing your divorce, feelings about your ex-partner, or anything related to the proceedings or your relationship online. And not just your relationship with the other party, but changes in your relationship status with others. In other words, don’t change your status to “in a relationship”, “no longer in a relationship”, etc. Also be careful of posting about your minor children.
Increase privacy settings
Enhancing your privacy settings is a crucial step in protecting your online presence during a divorce. Ensure your profiles are private to limit who can see your posts, photos, and friends list. This helps control your digital footprint and prevent unintended audiences from accessing your personal information.
Limit social media use
Consider significantly reducing or temporarily stopping your usage during your divorce. This may help you avoid the temptation to post something that could negatively impact your case. It also reduces the emotional stress that can come from seeing updates from or about your ex-spouse.
Screen friend requests carefully
Be cautious about accepting new friend requests during a divorce, as it’s not uncommon for individuals to use fake accounts to gather information. If you don’t personally know a new friend request, it’s safer to ignore it. Keeping your circle of online friends and followers limited to people you trust can protect your privacy.
Document and avoid deleting
If you’ve posted anything that could be relevant to your divorce proceedings before realizing its potential impact, consult with your legal representative before deleting it. While your instinct might be to remove potentially damaging information, doing so could be seen as destroying evidence. Instead, document your current social media content by taking screenshots and seek legal guidance about how best to move forward.
