Social media has made it easier than ever before to stay connected with the people you care about no matter how far away they are. It has also increased the intensity and frequency with which people communicate with their broader community. Exaggerated language and outright hyperbole are common on social media because it’s easy to say bold things when there’s no one to respond.
Before you sit down to type up a scathing analysis of every bad thing your ex did during your marriage or create the perfect caption talking about how your new romance is helping you get through the divorce, you may want to stop for a minute. Thinking about what you do on social media before you do it could help in your upcoming divorce.
Anything you say on social media could affect your case
Social media is, in some ways, brand management for individuals. You get to decide how you depict yourself to your community of friends and acquaintances. Whether you want to make sure people know how bad your marriage was or you’d rather highlight how happy you are that you’ve decided to move on, the way that you want to portray yourself and your ex to the public could affect the way the courts perceives you during a divorce.
Chastising your ex, talking about a relationship that you started before the end of your divorce or even showing off purchases to display your recent financial success could all affect the outcome of your divorce. Whatever you post online could wind up used by your ex or their attorney in court. Your tweets, Facebook updates and Instagram posts might help your ex support their allegations of adultery or show that you have damaged their reputation with people that both of you know.
Even things that you shared with restricted privacy settings or in messages to people you know could end up in the hands of your ex. You never know how someone will react to a divorce and who will happily send screenshots of your social media activity to someone that you have already blocked.
The reverse is also true about your ex
In general, avoiding social media during your divorce or being cautious about what you post is a smart move. However, it can still benefit you during your divorce. The things that your ex says and does online could help you build your case.
Understanding what will likely impact your divorce and the way the courts view you can help you plan for a better outcome.