Why You Should Avoid Social Media During A Divorce

October 5, 2021 O'Connor Family Law Divorce

THINK TWICE BEFORE TWEETING

As enjoyable as social media can be to keep in touch with old friends and other family members you may not see as often, it can also complicate a divorce if used improperly. Many attorneys advise against using social media during a divorce, and there are several good reasons why you should consider this advice.

POSTS CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU

Perhaps the biggest reason why you should avoid social media is to prevent anything you post from being used against you in court, regardless of your social media privacy settings. Imagine this example: you go out with your friends for a fun night at a bar or restaurant. You decide to take a goofy picture while sipping your drink. While that photo may have seemed harmless at the time, your spouse may find such a photo as an opportunity to convince the court that you are reckless with your money or have a drinking problem; while this may not be true (after all, it was just a picture of a night out), an argument with this type of post could impact an award of support payments or custody.

While many posts you can think of may seem harmless, especially at the time of posting, everything you post is an opportunity for your spouse to use against you in court. To avoid social media posts from being misconstrued in such a way, it may be wiser to just log out during the duration of your divorce.

THE DANGER OF COMPARISON

On the other hand, an effect that you might not think about is the jealousy and sadness you might feel comparing your life to others on social media. Studies have been done on the effects of social media on mental health, and the results have shown that too much time on social media can have a negative impact on your overall emotional and mental well-being.

It can be very easy for people to look at their own life (especially during difficult circumstances such as divorce) and compare that with their friends who are spending time on vacation with their families. Comparison is the thief of joy, so allowing yourself to spend time comparing your life to the lives of others can only make you sad and perhaps angry. Don’t allow yourself to fall into this trap.

SEEKING THE HELP OF A DIVORCE ATTORNEY

It’s important to use common sense when proceeding with a divorce, yet not everything about the process is crystal clear. If you have questions or are unsure of something, you should consult with a divorce attorney to get the answers you need to make a well-informed decision.

At O’Connor Family Law, we’ve been there before. Though you’ve been dealt a handful of lemons, our goal is to flip those lemons into lemonade while we help you start the next chapter of your life. To schedule a consultation with a member of our team, call us at 774-703-3755 or visit us online.