We live in a world where social media is as much of a real realm as our workplaces, our homes, and public places in our communities. As with most other sweeping societal changes, it can take time for the corresponding social mores to develop.
When you are working through the divorce process, it is important to keep the divorce out of the social media realm. Anything you post on the internet is public information that can potentially be used against you, rightfully or in a misconstrued manner. Keep the following four tips in mind to avoid social media-related difficulties with your divorce.
Do Keep your Opinions Off the Internet
Keep posting your opinions about hobbies, politics, and current events, but avoid posting your opinions about your former spouse, the divorce, the court, or any of the lawyers involved in your case on social media. Badmouthing the court or your former spouse can reflect badly on you, which can backfire when it comes time to determine your child custody arrangement.
Do Screenshot and Save Information that Could be Useful
Sometimes, useful information can be found on social media. For example, if you suspected your spouse used marital funds to buy gifts for an affair partner and you find evidence confirming it on social media, you can use it to support your assertion that you deserve a larger share of marital funds when your property is divided. Similarly, if you feel unsupervised time with your former partner is not safe for your children because of his or her drug or alcohol use, support this claim with evidence from social media.
But Don’t be Petty
You know the difference between an occasional beer with dinner and problematic drinking. Even if you are angry at your former spouse, do not use social media information out of context to make him or her look bad. The same can be done to you with your social media photos.
Don’t Use Social Media or the Internet as a Substitute for Taking Care of Yourself
It can be easy to look for validation online or to vent our frustrations there. Tempting as it is, choose instead to find other outlets for your feelings. Consider counseling, journaling, or spending time with friends. Social media use can actually lower your mood. Using it as a sounding board for your thoughts and feelings can make it easy for unsavory information to come out that can be used against you later. It also cannot provide the same stress relief that other outlets can provide and instead, traps users into an addictive cycle. If you tend to become obsessed with social media, choose to stay off it during your divorce.
Work with an Experienced Dayton Divorce Lawyer
For more guidance on navigating your divorce, work with an experienced divorce lawyer. Contact our team at Comunale Law Office today to set up your initial consultation in our office, during which we can discuss your case in greater detail and determine the most productive choices for you to make.
