Social media caution may be advised during divorce

On Behalf of | Jul 31, 2019 | Divorce

Social media is an important part of many people’s lives, and this can be especially true during a divorce. Facebook, Twitter or Instagram can be major ways that people connect with their friends and family. Still, those who want to ease their path to a successful divorce settlement may want to be discreet about what they choose to share publicly on their social media profiles. Conflicts over social media use can lead to marital unhappiness, and some types of social media posts could even make it into a Virginia family court during the divorce.

According to one study, increased social media usage is highly correlated with decreased satisfaction in a marriage. Of course, this usually reflects underlying issues rather than being solely tied to the use of social apps. However, these battles can continue during the divorce. Many people want to prioritize a simple divorce settlement, especially if children are involved. This can mean taking care to clean up a social media profile. People who want to protect themselves can increase their privacy settings, stay away from posting about the divorce and unfriend their soon-to-be ex-spouses. In addition, they may want to unfriend other close family and friends of the spouse as well.

Divorcing parents may have particular reason to be concerned about their social media posts. Social media material can end up in court, and few people want to see their Facebook or Instagram posts cited in a custody hearing. In addition, people with older children should also keep in mind that their kids may wind up reading their comments online.

Social media is only one aspect of negotiating life during and after a divorce. A family law attorney can advise a client about best practices for social media use and how some posts could affect major issues like child custody or property division.

Archives

Categories

FindLaw Network