There are several social media outlets out there. If you’re like a lot of people, then you have multiple accounts that you turn to when you want to connect with friends and family, discuss things that are on your mind, and vent your frustrations.
Although that might feel like it’s giving you immediate relief in your times of stress, you need to be careful when you use social media while your divorce is pending, as it can be used against you to your detriment, thereby putting you in a worse position than you’d hoped when all is said and done.
How social media can pose a threat during your divorce
There are several risks associated with social media use during divorce. Let’s look at some of them so that you understand why it’s important to forego social media until your marriage dissolution is finalized:
- Posts can be taken out of context: You might think that your posts on social media are innocent and that you can continue to carefully post throughout your divorce. But even the seemingly most inconsequential post can be taken out of context and used against you. For example, if there’s a photo with you having a glass of wine at dinner, your spouse might use that to try to show that you drink too much. It’s best to avoid having to address such ridiculous claims, especially given that there’s a chance that the court will buy into them.
- Deleting posts might work against you: If you post during your divorce, then you might find yourself regretting what you’ve put on social media. When that happens, you might be tempted to delete those posts. But your spouse might already have screenshots of the post, so deleting it might make it look worse. Additionally, you could be accused of destroying evidence, which can get you in trouble with the court.
- Anything and everything can end up in court: It’s important to remember that anything that you say and do, including that which is documented on social media, can and likely will be used in court. So, you don’t want to have anything on your social media page that paints you in an unfavorable light. This even includes posts that are older.
- Your child’s social media posts matter: Watching your own social media use during divorce may not be enough to protect your interests. Your child’s social media posts can also be used in court. For example, if your child gets upset because they’ve been justifiably grounded and they take to social media to complain about the discipline you’ve implemented, then the other parent might use that post to argue that your child doesn’t want to live with you.
- You might not be able to trust your “friends”: You’re probably connected to a lot of people on social media. Although you think you might be able to trust these individuals to back you in your divorce, they might be in an awkward position if they also know your spouse. As a result, they might turn on you when you least expect it. So, don’t think that your social media posts are safe even when they’re limited to your friends.
Be careful as you navigate your divorce
Divorces tend to put every aspect of your life under the microscope. That can be a disheartening and even frightening thing to think about, but you can carefully prepare your case to protect your interests. If you’d like to learn more about how to do that, then now is the time to read up on the divorce process and strategies to position yourself for success.