The Dangers of Social Media During Divorce

Social media is a prevalent platform used by more and more people in everyday life. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat allow users to post everything about their social lives instantly. While there are many benefits to social media, such as reconnecting with old friends and keeping in touch with loved ones, there are also drawbacks. When you are going through a child custody battle, for example, what you post on social media networks can come back to haunt you.

Social Media as Evidence for a Raleigh Child Custody Case

There has been an increase in the use of social media evidence in family law cases. Legal professionals use social media to gather information about clients, opposing parties, and other witnesses.

Evidence from social media can be relevant to a wide range of family law disputes including child custody, property distribution, and spousal support.

Anyone going through a family law dispute should be aware of their social media presence. Any post, even as innocent as attending a work related event, can be spun to have a negative connotation.

Examples of Negative Consequences from a Social Media Post
1. Presents you in an unfavorable light to a judge
2. Allows your former spouse to keep tabs on you
3. Shows that your income is not what you report it to be
4. Shows that you are not supportive of your spouse
5. Demonstrates that your parenting may not be in the best interest of the children
6. Be used to question your truthfulness
7. Delay settlement negotiations; or
8. Potentially be perceived as a threat

6 Steps to Protect Yourself from Social Media Problems

If you are going to use social media, there are a few tips that should be followed to reduce any problems that could arise in your Raleigh divorce case.

Steps You Should take on Social Media During Your Divorce:

1. Suspend (but do not delete) your social media account.

The best option is to suspend your social media account. You should stay off of social media until after your family law matter has been resolved. Do not delete your social media account until you have conferred with an attorney. Otherwise, it could be construed as destroying evidence.

2. Change your password.

Even if you decide to suspend your social media account, you need to change your password. There is a high probability that your former spouse will know the password or security question answers and be able to access the account.

3. Modify your privacy settings.

In the event that you keep your social media account or create a new account, it is critical that you modify your privacy setting to control who views your account.

4. Think twice before you post.

Before you make any action on social media (including posting, commenting, “liking,” etc.) think about your action and the consequences. Remember that anything you post can affect a child custody case, spousal support and property distribution cases as well. Do not use social media to blow off steam, and avoid posting pictures and statements that could even be interpreted negatively. If you do not want a judge to read or see it, do not post it.

5. Who has access to your social media account?

It is wise to revise your friends list and unfriend or block anyone that will share information with your former spouse.

6. If you do not have a social media account, do not create one.

Now is not the time to get on social media. This will only cause an additional headache during a difficult time.

Contact a Raleigh Divorce Lawyer for Counsel During Divorce

At the Doyle Law Group, we have a team of divorce lawyers dedicated to helping you with your Raleigh divorce case. We are available for consultation. Give our attorney's a call at 919-301-8843 in with questions about your case.