Your divorce might be one of the most difficult events you will have to go through in life. It involves disruption, uncertainty and radical change. If you have a support system, such as family and friends, you are fortunate, and you may have a more positive outcome and get back on your feet sooner as a result. It is also possible that you will turn to your Facebook and other social media contacts for approval and encouragement.
For some people, social media is hard to live without, and those contacts and friends in cyberspace can offer fierce support in a time of need. However, if you are going through a divorce, you should be aware that your social media pages will be under the microscope of your ex’s law team, and even the most innocent posts taken out of context could spell trouble for you.
Private matters are private
Difficult as it may be, stepping away from social media during a divorce is often a good idea. Some go one step further and deactivate their accounts or delete certain damaging posts, but this is not wise. The courts may see this as destroying evidence. If you decide to maintain your social media presence, it is important that you think carefully about everything you post, share or allow others to share, especially the following:
- Posts that suggest you are an unfit parent, such as pictures of you partying or comments about heavy drinking, drug use, illegal behavior or risky actions
- Information about your finances or spending that contradict your discovery disclosure or jeopardize your valid request for support
- Comments or rants about your ex’s parenting ability, which the court may interpret as parental alienation that can damage your custody goals
- Complaints about the judge or others involved in your case, or tirades about the progress of your case
- Details about a new romantic interest or fling, even if your intention is just to make your ex jealous
You are not going to win your divorce on social media, but you could easily damage your cause if the wrong messages get back to the wrong people. Ideally, you and your spouse can work out the issues of your divorce cordially and maintain a civil relationship long past the signing of the papers. Your behavior on social media could complicate matters and make it less likely you will resolve your issues peaceably without the stress of a contentious battle.