You know that person: the person who takes a picture of every plated dish or cup of coffee before consuming it, who snaps selfies at every possible opportunity, and who seemingly feels hashtags are more appropriate for conveying their thoughts than actual words. Society has become so inundated with social media cues that most people post or tweet without a second thought.
If you are in the midst of or thinking about divorce, however, you should pause before hitting that submit button. Oversharing online about your relational break-down can not only escalate the animosity of the situation, it could also jeopardize your case. As much as you may want to, avoid doing the following:
- Share details about your divorce in a status update or tweet
- Make passive-aggressive comments about your soon-to-be ex or in-laws
- Upload unflattering or inappropriate pictures of your former partner
- Post cryptic comments about your separation
- Comment on the attractiveness of a new partner as compared to the ugliness of your old one
- Involve your children in any online commentary about the break up
- Mock or insult your lawyer, your ex’s lawyer or the judge online
Because of the ease of using social media, most people forget that making comments online or uploading photos is akin to publishing something in print. Yes, a post or photo can be untagged, edited or deleted, but that does not mean it has left the cloud or a website’s server. Forensic experts can be retained to track down comprising information, especially if either person engages in cyberbullying or anonymous intimidation.
You do not need to stop using Facebook or Twitter altogether while going through a divorce. Just remember that what you post online has the potential to become evidence in your case. If that thought gives you pause, don’t submit the post.
Alternative ways to deal with divorce
If you need to blow off some steam about your divorce, you have several options. When you find yourself looking to vent, you could:
- Talk to a friend or family member uninvolved in the case
- Try therapy or a support group, which are great places to deal with the emotional effects of your situation
- Take up journaling or exercise as a way to relieve stress
As with every part of your divorce, you may want to consider hiring an experienced divorce lawyer who can give you specific advice about your case. He or she can provide a second opinion on anything that might impact your case, including posting on social media, and counsel you accordingly.
Source: Huffington Post, “10 Things You Should Never Post About Your Relationship On Facebook,” Brittany Wong, Dec. 28, 2015