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How social media can negatively impact your divorce

On Behalf of | Sep 24, 2020 | Divorce

Going through a divorce is an emotionally difficult time. You more than likely will need time to process the end of your marriage in a healthy way. In the meantime, you might feel angry one day and sad the next. You may want to vent about your ex on Facebook or Twitter, but you should think twice before you do that.

Using social media posts as evidence

What you post on social media can negatively impact your divorce. That’s because, according to National Law Review, 81% of divorce attorneys found evidence to present in court through social media.  That means if you post nasty comments about your ex online, your ex’s attorney could use what you wrote to show you might disparage your spouse in front of your kids. Or if you post something about how you’ll never agree to give your ex custody, that could impact how a judge sees your willingness to do what is in the best interest of your children.

Some of the other ways your social media posts could impact your divorce include:

  1. You could post photos that make you look like an unfit parent. You might not want to document your latest night out partying with your friends. If a judge sees photos of you drinking heavily, he or she might think twice about how responsible you are when caring for your children.
  2. You could post photos that make it look like you have more money than you do. You don’t want to post photos of your brand-new car or expensive vacation. Those types of photos might make it seem you don’t need the child support or spousal support you are asking for in your divorce.
  3. You discuss details of your divorce and your feelings about your divorce settlement.
  4. You post photos of yourself in a new relationship before you are officially divorced.

Limiting your social media use

If you are someone who has a pretty active social media presence, you may want to avoid using your accounts entirely. It may be easier to not use social media at all, so you don’t have to think about if what you are posting is appropriate.

You also may need to come to a social media agreement with your ex about your children. If you want to protect your kids’ privacy, you’ll need to talk about what you want your ex to avoid posting about.

 

 

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