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A majority of people on this planet are active on social media. Specifically, according to Pew Research Center, 74 percent of the adults that are online are engaged on social networking sites. So, it’s not surprising that social media posts are now being used by divorce attorneys in court cases.
Can your social media profiles be used against you in court? Yes, your photos, posts and other online information are admissible in court. While it might bring momentary relief to vent on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, it’s a bad strategy. Here is how social media can impact your divorce and some tips to avoid those pitfalls.
Your post can have long-term consequences
What you post could come back to haunt you in a variety of ways. If you claim to be a kind and loving parent and then post hateful comments on a social media site, this is contradictory. Spouses have been caught in lies about employment, assets levels, and cheating through careless social media posts. Even if you are no longer “friends” with your ex on these sites, you likely have some mutual friends who have chosen sides and are watching events unfold through your separation and divorce.
Your posts could harm your children
Your children may not be on social media, but that doesn’t mean that what you post on those sites won’t affect them. Other parents, teachers, and even your ex may see what you post and discuss those comments either with your children or in a place that the discussion will be overheard. In any divorce case, it’s important that you keep your grievances private as it’s been repeatedly shown that involving children in these conflicts are more harmful than the divorce itself.
Avoid social media pitfalls
When all else fails, just don’t post anything. There are other productive ways to express yourself and deal with intense emotions that are sure to surface during a divorce. One useful tool is to write in a private journal. Also, find a trusted friend or two that you can call on the phone or meet up with in person to vent and get some emotions off of your chest. A licensed therapist or life coach may also be able to help you through this difficult transition and provide some much-needed perspective.
While a majority of people are on social media today, it should be a tool to share life’s journey in a positive manner. Using restraint on social media during a divorce may be difficult at times, but lashing out can have dire consequences.
