It is not unusual to share your thoughts about recent events in your life with friends and family on social media. However, you should be careful with your posts, especially if you are in the middle of a divorce.
Your social media activity can affect the divorce proceedings and sway some decisions against you. Therefore, it helps to understand how this can happen and the steps you can take to minimize the negative impact of social media on your divorce.
Your posts can be used as evidence against you
You may post pictures while on a luxury trip in the middle of the divorce, yet you say that you cannot pay a certain amount of alimony or child support due to limited financial resources. When this is brought to the court’s attention, it may paint you as dishonest or deceitful and work against you during the proceedings, even if the trip cost you little or nothing.
Additionally, some posts can lead to doubts about your parenting skills, which might influence custody decisions. For instance, if you post a video that shows you smoking around the children or drinking alcohol, your co-parent may use that to show that the children are not safe around you. The court is likely to agree.
It is also worth noting that seemingly innocuous posts may be misinterpreted. Therefore, it is advisable to keep off social media during your divorce proceedings. If you have to post for some reason, watch what you post and don’t use social media to vent or make disparaging comments about your soon-to-be-ex.
Get the necessary legal assistance
Before engaging in any public discussion about your divorce, it is crucial to assess the potential consequences. Sometimes, the damage caused is irreversible, even when you delete the post or change your privacy settings.
It is best to have experienced legal guidance during a divorce to protect your interests and help ensure that you avoid doing things that could hurt you during the proceedings.