Be Wary of Social Media Use During Divorce

September 13, 2012

As technology advances and brings society more ways to connect with one another electronically, people in Texas and around the world are becoming increasingly comfortable sharing information about their lives online. People often enjoy keeping their connections updated about events in their lives by posting on such sites as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr and MySpace. People sometimes even use these sites as a forum to vent about frustrations or problems. What people may not realize is that information they post on social media sites can negatively impact them in divorceproceedings.

Gathering Evidence From the Internet

In a survey of the members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 80 percent of the respondents reported a marked increase in the number of divorce and child custody cases using evidence gathered from social media sites since 2006. Attorneys used to hire private investigators to find out information about opposing parties in divorce matters, but now they simply look on the internet to uncover potentially damaging material.

A parent can hurt his or her chances of gaining custody of the children in a divorce if he or she repeatedly discusses or posts pictures of drug and alcohol use. A spouse claiming to be too poor to pay spousal support can look like a liar to a judge if his or her social networking profile has pictures or posts about new cars or expensive vacations. A spouse who engages in emotional outbursts about the divorce online or badmouths the other spouse can appear emotionally unstable to the court.

Use Social Media Wisely

People need not abandon their online social networks entirely if they are going through divorce. By following a few tips, they can reduce the likelihood that their online lives will impact their divorce proceedings:
-Post with caution: People should consider whether there is any way a picture or comment could be taken out of context before sharing.
-Keep profiles private: Divorcing spouses should make sure their privacy settings are adjusted so that only their friends may access profiles, and they should not accept new connections during a divorce, as these may be people attempting to spy for the other spouse.
-Remove potentially damaging posts by friends: People need to monitor what others post on their profiles or when others tag them in pictures.
-Do not discuss the divorce: Divorce can be an emotionally trying event, but instead of sharing their feelings online, people should discuss their emotions in person with a trusted friend so that there is no record of it for the court to read.


Consult an Attorney

Divorce can be a difficult experience. People need all of the information they can get in order to decide what is best for them. If you are considering divorce, meet with a seasoned divorce attorney who can help you protect your interests.

Article provided by Law Office of Lauren Cain
Visit us at http://www.collin-county-divorce-attorney.com