The Impact of Social Media on Your Divorce

You’re going through a divorce, and you feel as though your emotions are taking you on a roller coaster ride.  One day you feel completely broken and alone, another you’re overcome with disbelief and rage.  That turns into confidence and reckless abandon.  All of that is normal and nothing to be worried about.  What might cause consternation, however, is if you post a bunch of it on social media sites.

Consequences of Mindless Posting 

If you use your social media pages to purge your soul, it could end up causing problems with your divorce. More than a few attorneys search sites like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and dating sites to try to find juicy tidbits that might help their case. The words and pictures there could ultimately be used as leverage to get your spouse a better settlement if there’s anything that could possibly be interpreted in a negative way. For example, if you are trying to get as much as possible in child support or spousal support and are asserting that you are living on limited funds, pictures of you out partying regularly could hurt that argument.  If you are trying to get sole custody of the kids because you think your spouse is unfit, images of you drinking and stories about you blacking out will not paint you as the sterling parent. The fact is, if your soon-to-be-ex’s attorney finds anything at all that makes you look manipulative or dishonest, it could be used against you. You definitely do not want the judge to think poorly of you. These are just a couple of reasons it’s best to imagine that anything you post could eventually make it before the judge, and act accordingly.  If you can’t control yourself online, it might be best to simply stay off of social media altogether.

This is Serious 

According to the National Law Review, more than 80 percent of attorneys discover social media evidence they present in court.  Two-thirds of divorce cases utilize Facebook as a primary source of information. On-line affairs are often discovered in this way.

 Options to Social Media 

Sure, dumping everything you’re going through onto the web can feel cathartic. But there are other ways to get a grip.  Consider the following as options:

• Confide confidentially in a trusted friend or relative.
• Invest in your spirituality.
• Get a new gym membership or commit to walking daily.
• Spend time in nature.
• Develop a new hobby.
• Learn a new skill or take a community education class.
• Volunteer with an organization that needs help.
• Get a new pet.
• Invest in a good therapist or counselor.

You’ll Get Through it 

It may not seem likely looking into it, but you will survive this, and come out on the other side with new opportunities.  At WiseLieberman, our experienced Boca Raton divorce attorneys are committed to getting the best settlement for you we can get.  Help us out by keeping your social media pages boring!  To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our Boca Raton office today.