Social media can be used to keep in touch with family and friends and keep them updated on your life. It can also be a place to share photos of family vacations and to save memories. In a divorce case, however, social media can generate evidence that can be used against one or both parties and affect alimony, child support, child custody, and more. Here are some common social media pitfalls to avoid:
Do not use social media as a support system;
Complaints about your spouse/co-parent should not be shared on social media;
Censor your social media activity and do not post anything that you would not want to be used in court. For example, do not post personal information, messages, or photographs of a date with another person or you are consuming alcohol when you have your children;
Consider your social media audience before sharing personal information;
Do not expect that your posts will be completely private, even if you think you have mastered social media security. Married couples often have several mutual friends, some of which might have chosen a side;
Ask your friends and family not to post any comments or photos of you that may affect you during this process.
Time and time again, text messages are used as exhibits in court. Be mindful of your interactions with your spouse/co-parent and others on any social platform, including text messaging. Remember to save text threads that may be relevant to your case and provide them to your attorney.
The best thing to do to avoid social media ruining any portion of a divorce or child custody case is to simply stop using it. If you're going through either one of these cases, you can be sure your spouse/co-parent and their attorney are searching through your online life. Many people may even be tempted to delete their social media accounts all together. However, once litigation has begun, social media becomes evidence, which cannot be “spoiled.” Protect yourself by keeping your social media related accounts free of any sensitive information until the case is finalized.
Having an attorney help you navigate your divorce or custody case is critical to your success in protecting yourself and your family. Contact us today for your free consultation for more information on how we can help you.