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These days, most of us use social media, whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other number of platforms that exist for people to share their thoughts, activities, and photos. While social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends, family, and even mere acquaintances, it can also do you a major disservice if you are in the midst of a divorce. How can something as seemingly harmless as social media harm the outcome of your settlement? Read on to find out.
Below are some ways in which remaining active on social media during your divorce can ultimately backfire on you:
- Pictures tell a story: As the wise, old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Oftentimes, a major component involved in social media is picture-sharing. If you are currently going through a divorce, however, this is one risk you should forego. If you post a picture that contains some kind of unsavory or inappropriate behavior and you are trying to obtain custody of your children, this could irreparably harm your chances of being successful. You should also keep in mind that pictures are subject to interpretation and can easily be taken out of context, so spare yourself the possibility of handicapping your own case and refrain from posting pictures.
- Your spending habits are out there: No one is actually posting how much they spend or how much they make a year on Facebook, but a lot can be gleaned from your posts that can easily reveal your spending habits. If you treated yourself to something extravagant and raved about it online, this will come back to haunt you when you try to argue for lower spousal support payments.
- Secrets can be exposed: When you share your life with a person, so much becomes intertwined, including your friendships. You might unadd your soon-to-be ex-spouse on social media, but chances are you also share friends and you might not know for certain to whom they are loyal. Therefore, even if your spouse does not have access to your social media posts, what you share can still find its way back to him or her. The only real way to play it safe is to stay off social media for the duration of your divorce. This might sound a little harsh, but a lot is at stake in a divorce case and it is likely worth far more than what you are getting out of sharing a post online.
- Friends and family can out you: Your friends and family are likely not trying to hurt you on purpose, but if they tag you in a post, this can be just as harmful to your divorce case. Ask them to respect your privacy at this time and not to tag you in any social media posts.
- Nothing ever really gets deleted: You might think that hitting the delete button means that post or photo is gone for good, but the fact is that everything you release on the internet is there to stay. If you cannot stay off social media during your divorce, refrain from posting any personal details about your life. If you are unsure about a post, ask your attorney.
Katy Family Law Attorney
If you believe your marriage can no longer work and that you are headed for a divorce, you need to secure skilled legal representation as soon as possible to help you navigate this process. At the Fischer Law Firm, P.C., our knowledgeable Katy divorce attorneys seek to minimize conflict and maximize solutions. We understand that divorce is often a difficult experience for families, which is why we are dedicated to finding solutions that will help you and your spouse dissolve your marriage smoothly and with as little stress as possible.
Get started on your divorce case today and reach out to our law firm at (346) 444-1050 to discuss your options with one of our experienced and compassionate attorneys.
