Divorce, Social Media, and the Right to Remain Silent
Just about everyone these days uses some form of social media. Whether it’s posting photos to Instagram or sharing articles on Facebook, our online presence has become a big part of our daily lives. But if you’re going through a divorce, it’s very important that you watch what you post. Using social media during divorce can have a negative effect on your case’s outcome if you’re not extremely careful.
Divorce and Social Media
The best thing to do when going through a divorce proceeding is not to use social media at all. If that is not a possibility for you, though, here are a few tips about how to properly handle divorce and social media:
- Don’t Post Anything Negative. Although it can be tempting to turn to social media during trying times in order to vent your frustration, doing so in the middle of a divorce will only hurt your case. If you say bad things about your spouse, it can make you look vengeful and can also upset close family members. This is especially true if you have children.
- Make Your Account as Private as Possible. You can assume that everything you do post will be seen by your ex-spouse and their divorce lawyer, so limiting access to who can see your posts is the best way to protect yourself.
- Don’t Post Pictures with a New Romantic Partner. If you’ve started dating someone else, make sure that you don’t give any indication of this new relationship in your social media until after the proceedings are finished. If you do, it can lead to speculation that you began seeing the person before you separated from your spouse and can hurt your case.
- Don’t Talk About Your Case. Never post anything that has to do with the details of your divorce proceedings. This can disrupt the case and throw a wrench into what is already a difficult process.
Divorce and social media are a tricky combination. The best thing is not to use it at all, but if you find that you can’t, following these steps can limit the damage that your posting will do
To find out more about what not to do when it comes to online activity, join the attorneys at Lazor Rantas, PC, for a free online training session, The 5 Don’ts of Social Media During Divorce, or contact us at 973-457-8844 or by filling out the form below
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