Social media has become such a standard part of daily life that it is often the first place that people turn when something happens. Whether they are excited or upset, they want to share something with their friends, family members and followers.
Doing so provides a sense of emotional connection and also social validation. During the anger, grief and other intense emotions that arise as part of a divorce, people may want to share their feelings and experiences with their online networks. However, venting on social media can be a dangerous decision for those with a pending legal matter.
Social media posts can be evidence
Anything that people share on social media can potentially play a role in court proceedings. The other party and their attorney can obtain social media documentation showing that one party disparaged the others, talked openly about certain types of misconduct or even made threats online.
Public posts, content shared to a filtered audience and even private messages or information shared in non-public groups are available for discovery during the divorce process. Everything people share online leaves a record, even things previously hidden by privacy settings or deleted by a user.
As such, avoiding all discussions of the divorce on social media is often the safest option for those worried about the outcome of property division or custody proceedings. People may need to find different ways to tap into their support networks, including having face-to-face conversations with trusted individuals or even attending counseling.
Having legal guidance can help people avoid mistakes that can seriously impact the outcome of an upcoming divorce. Asking a legal professional about social media concerns, for example, is a wholly appropriate – and potentially wise – approach to the start of the divorce process.