When you’re going through a separation from your spouse, it’s important to consider how social media and divorce connect. Most people these days are active on social media websites: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. It’s become increasingly common to post personal information about your life, family, and frustrations.
But be careful about what you post when going through a divorce. Your social media posts can have a negative impact on the outcome of your divorce or child custody case. To learn more about how your social media posts may impact you, talk to a divorce attorney at Sumner & Associates, P.C. at 248-650-0055.
Social Media Posts May Become Evidence
Although you may have your accounts set to private, attorneys and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have ways of accessing your posts. Anything you post can become evidence in your divorce case or child custody fight. If you make negative posts about your spouse or say disparaging things about them, you may be the one that looks bad to the court. It’s best to keep all information about your spouse and divorce off social media. When dealing with social media and divorce, don’t give your ex-spouse any ammunition against you.
Protect Your Privacy on Social Media
Most social media accounts have options to restrict who may view your posts. When you begin having conflict with your spouse, you should review those settings and make sure everything is private. Only friends should be able to view your posts. Review your friends list and eliminate anyone you don’t know well or who is a mutual friend with you and your ex-spouse. If you must remain social media friends with a mutual friend or family member, restrict what they can view on your page. Social media and divorce issues can cause conflict among friends and family, so avoid that by preventing mutual friends from seeing sensitive posts.
Don’t Post About a New Significant Other
If you’re dealing with divorce, you should refrain from posting about a new significant other on social media until your divorce is complete. Even if your spouse is posting about new partners, you should show restraint and avoid showing off to friends and family. Some divorces can take a significant amount of time, so it’s understandable that you may engage in a new relationship before your divorce is over. However, you should not post about it until your divorce is finalized.
Don’t Air Grievances on Social Media
It’s natural to want to post about your positive and negative situations on social media. However, you should refrain from airing your grievances with your former partner. Mutual friends and family members may make negative comments or share those posts with your former spouse. Instead, discuss situations directly with your former partner, your attorney, or the court. When you have a problem, it’s best to deal with it directly instead of being passive aggressive through social media.
Leave Your Children Out of the Drama
When dealing with divorce, leave your kids out of the drama. If you must post negative situations on social media, do not mention your children. The court will likely order you to refrain from disparaging your former spouse to your children. By posting negative comments on social media and tagging your children or mentioning them, you may be violating a court order.
Contact Us If You’re Dealing With Social Media and Divorce
When you’re facing divorce, you need a skilled attorney who can guide you through the process and protect your rights. Sumner & Associates, P.C. has extensive experience walking clients through the divorce process. Call us today at 248-650-0055 to find out more about social media and divorce, and how you can protect your interests.
