Most adults, and now kids too, use some form of social media every day. They tweet, post, and hashtag their thoughts and feelings. However, oversharing on a public platform that anyone can access during a divorce is not the best decision. While it may feel good to vent about your situation to your loved ones, the opposite party can use it as evidence.
It is unfortunate, but you have to think twice before posting about your feelings to your “friends.” People you call friends may not even have your best interests at heart. The information you post can be used by your ex-spouse to prove a claim. Knowing what you should and should not do becomes crucial. Read more about divorces here.
Social media DOs and DONTs
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Do make your accounts private.
Many social media websites, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, allow users to make their accounts private. You can go through your followers or friends list and remove anyone you do not trust. Only people you allow will be able to see your posts.
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Do not delete anything.
Deleting any recent posts or ones from the past can be considered as destroying evidence. This is illegal and could put you in more trouble in court. If you plan on cleaning up your social media, wait until your divorce is finalized.
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Do consider taking a break from social media.
One of the best ways to protect your interests during a divorce case is to stop using it altogether. This will also allow you to focus on the legal process more and your well-being.
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Do not write anything about the divorce.
Posting about your negative feelings and emotions about the divorce can be damaging. The other party could possibly take your sentences out of context and present them as evidence in court. Vent to a therapist or your friend instead.
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Do wait to announce your new relationship.
It is fine to date a new person or even get into a relationship during your divorce. However, you might want to wait until the case is over to announce the news. Changing your relationship status on Facebook from single while a divorce case is going in can cause problems.
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Do not share information about your finances.
During a divorce, it is important to keep information about your finances private. Sharing this information could cause problems during property and asset division and determining spousal support, child support, etc.
