The Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media During Your Divorce

Going through a divorce can be a particularly tough time, and if you feel as though your partner has mistreated you, you might be tempted to take to social media to let the world know about it. You also might want to use social media platforms to seek out help and advice from other individuals or support groups that are going through the same experience. However, using social media during your divorce should only be done so with extreme caution, as ranting about your ex or disclosing personal information could cause further pain and stress, as well as harm to your legal position. 

Here are some dos and don’ts for how to handle your social media accounts during your divorce.

Do… 

Stop using social media platforms until your divorce is final. Doing so is the best way to ensure that nothing can be used against you which could harm your case. 

Change your passwords. Changing your social media passwords makes sense from a security point of view and will ensure your ex can’t get into your accounts without your permission. Changing your privacy settings to the highest security level will also help ensure that you have complete control over who can see and post things on your account.

Refrain from posting anything about your ex, their family or their friends. Using social media to vent is dangerous and could not only cause trouble, but could be used as evidence against you during divorce proceedings and child custody cases. If you need to vent, consider talking in person to a family member, friend, or therapist. 

Make sure your family and friends refrain from making disparaging or defamatory comments online. 

Monitor your children.Monitoring your children’s social media activity is also a good idea. You are responsible for what your children say and do online, and if they are feeling unhappy or uncertain during your divorce, they may post something that could have severe consequences. Additionally, their social media postings may contain information that you need to know about their mental state, their planned activities, or their reactions to certain information. 

Remember that “secret” groups and “private” messages can still be accessed. Anything you say online has the potential to be seen or heard by people you did not intend to see or hear it. Therefore, exercising caution at all times is the smart choice. Even if you think you are posting something or messaging someone in confidence, you cannot guarantee this, and it is best to refrain from using social media platforms to share anything you wouldn’t want to be made public. 

Don’t…

Post anything morally questionable – about you or your ex. Typical topics to avoid include gambling, medications, substance use, online dating, or intimate photos. All of these posts, pictures, and comments can be gathered and used against you in court, so it’s best not to give your ex any ammunition! Remember, this evidence could affect your divorce settlement, as well as child custody and visitation rights.

Post photos or content of you with a new partner – In general, it’s best to be cautious about dating before your divorce is final. If you choose to “get back out there” before everything is fully settled with your ex, it’s best not to advertise that fact. Although it might feel good to know that your ex is seeing you with someone new, those negative feelings of jealousy, anger, or suspicion could cause your ex to make the rest of your divorce proceedings a lot more adversarial and difficult. Additionally, if you have children, it’s best to not EVER post photos of your new partner with your children until and unless you’re in a good place with your ex and all of your issues have been fully resolved. 

Discuss your case online. Putting details of your case on social media is not a wise move. Even if you are feeling disgruntled, mistreated, or are certain that a mistake has been made, sharing this on social media could get you in trouble. If you think there is a problem with your case, you should discuss this with your attorney, who will help you decide on the best course of action. 

Contact Us Today

Using social media during your divorce can cause problems. However, if you do wish to continue to use these platforms make sure you follow the above tips to help ensure you don’t harm your case. If you need more help or guidance, the experienced divorce lawyers at Haas & Associates are on hand to offer you practical, professional advice. Call us today at 919-783-9669.