Social media is a large part of people’s everyday lives. It is often used as a way to update friends and family members about the ongoings in their life. This can include anything from daily events to celebrations. These events are fun to share with others, but other parts of life are better kept off the internet. This can include the details of your divorce case. The sharing of this information or harmful comments can negatively impact the divorce proceedings.
How Can My Social Media Affect My Divorce?
While people may think differently, there are several ways that social media can affect the outcome of a divorce. Recent studies showed the following numbers on the topic:
- 81% of all divorce attorneys found social networking information that was later presented in court as evidence
- 66% of divorce lawyers use Facebook as a primary evidence source
- ⅓ of divorce actions begin with affairs that happen online
Bad Social Media Habits to Avoid
While going through a divorce, it is simply best to just not post on social media accounts at all. This can prevent your content from being used against you in a negative way. However, if you choose to use social media anyway, it is important to do so cautiously. There are certain things you should avoid when posting online during a divorce. This includes but is not limited to:
- Speaking poorly about your spouse or ex-spouse online. Any comments, threats, criticisms, and more can damage the outcome.
- Deleting social media activity. While many people believe that deleting a post on social media makes it go away forever, this is not the case. It is impossible to permanently delete social media activity and harmful content can still be found and used in court. Deleting these posts can even be seen as an inference of guilt.
- Posting pictures or discussing alcohol and/or drug use. Something as simple as posting a picture of a beer or a glass of wine can be spun and used in court.
- Discussing new relationships. Any romantic relationships that take place during a divorce should be kept under wraps until the split is official. Otherwise, the evidence could be used as proof of an affair.
- Letting friends post about your life. Often times, friends have opinions of their own regarding a divorce. It is important to make sure they do not air these opinions online, as the information can harm your case.
- Sharing your location. Checking in at locations such as bars, clubs, and casinos may be misconstrued and used against you in court.
Contact our Firm
If you require strong legal representation for matters of divorce and family law in New Jersey, contact The Law Offices of Paone, Zaleski & Murphy to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys today.