Legal Professionals of Hirsch & Ehlenberger

You might want to avoid social media during your divorce

On Behalf of | Feb 17, 2023 | Divorce

Divorce can be difficult, and it’s natural to want to reach out for emotional support. And for many people, social media is where they talk about their personal problems. 

But discussing your divorce on social media can come with serious consequences that could hurt you in the long run – both personally and legally. Here’s why staying away from drama-prone public forums is an especially good idea when dealing with a breakup and what you should consider before sharing anything about your divorce online.

The opposing side will scrutinize your online presence

Social media has become a way of life, and it can be used in court proceedings. In the case of a divorce, courts are increasingly turning to social media to get an accurate reflection of the individuals involved. Your posts, comments and photos can be used as evidence if they pertain to financial matters like income or lifestyle issues like extramarital affairs. Social media can sway the opinion of judges and play a central role in determining who gets what in terms of assets during settlement negotiations. 

Your ex-spouse and their counsel may use various methods to discover what you may be posting online. Through techniques such as online searches, geo-tagging data analysis, keyword searches, and location monitoring, the opposing side can gain access to an individual’s social media accounts and online activity.

Navigating a divorce can be a complicated process, and naturally, you may want to turn to your online community to vent. However, it’s important to remember that the opposing side may be monitoring your activity. Staying off social media can also help to establish healthy boundaries and enable you to better manage your overall well-being during this challenging time.

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