Social Media During Your Divorce: Restraint is Key

Going through a divorce can feel so painfully personal. It can be a challenge to hold back from discussing the hurt and anger you’re experiencing in a public forum, or from trying to make a former partner jealous with news from your exciting new life without them. Sharing this sort of information on social media, however, can have a substantial negative impact on your divorce or dispute over child custody. 81% of the member attorneys of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers report having either used or encountered evidence from social media during a divorce trial. Read on to learn more about ways to avoid letting social media negatively affect your Florida divorce.

1. Present yourself as the responsible adult that you are: When going through a breakup, there is always a temptation to appear to the outside world as though you’re having a great time being single—out every night, partying with friends, and perhaps getting a little wild. This may be an exaggeration of what is actually a fairly sedate life, but it won’t appear so to the outside world. Painting yourself as an irresponsible partier could serve as fodder for a co-parent’s argument that you can’t be trusted with custody of your children.

1. Remember the wide array of people who can see what you post: It’s smart to make your Facebook page or Instagram account private when you file for divorce. However, this doesn’t mean that your remaining friends or followers won’t share photos or information they see with your ex. You can also delete friends and block followers who were close to your former spouse, but loyalties may shift and change without you realizing it, and information you wish to stay private might not remain so for long.

1. Displays of wealth or luxury could hurt your case: Social media can lead people to post lavish pictures and updates in order to impress their friends—photos of new cars or an exotic vacation. However, these sorts of displays will certainly not impress a judge if you’re attempting to argue that you are entitled to more money in spousal support payments, or can’t afford an increase in your child support payment.

1. Don’t add people as friends whom you don’t know personally: If you do make your accounts private, be sure to add only people you know as friends. Private investigators can send you a friend request in order to gain access to photos and posts only your friends can see, and can download and use this information against you in court. You do not have a right to privacy of information you post online and share with someone you’ve added as a friend.

For compassionate, determined, and detail-oriented legal assistance with a divorce or custody-sharing agreement in Florida, contact the Pensacola family law attorney Crystal Collins Spencer for a consultation on your case, at 850-912-8080 (Pensacola), 850-424-6683 (Sandestin), or 850-200-4652 (Fort Walton Beach).