Today, the term “private life” has become somewhat meaningless. Daily, we check in to our favorite lunch spot on Foursquare, take a picture of our meal and post it to Facebook, then Tweet about how it tasted on Twitter. Social media has created a culture of openness and transparency that leaves many people’s lives up for public viewing and commentary. Regardless of your thoughts on social media forums, it’s important to know that, in certain situations, going public with the details of your life could end up hurting you.
In this case, we’re talking about divorce. Just as your friends can read everything you post on your Facebook wall, it’s possible a judge could order that your social media activity be used as evidence in your divorce. Depending on what you’ve posted, this could affect property division, child custody and spousal support.
Long story short: think twice before you post. If you would be offended if your spouse posted something similar, don’t do it. Because if you say in court that you can only afford a certain amount of alimony but then post pictures of you and your friends on a fabulous vacation, it could look like you lied about your ability to pay. Similarly, bashing your ex online is probably not a good idea. If you need to get something off your chest, call a friend or a family member who can be your sounding board.
Social media has become engrained our culture and in many of our lives. But during a divorce, you may be best-served by resisting the urge to post. Divorce can be difficult and complicated enough without social media posts calling into question your ability to pay, or worse, your ability to parent. If you have further questions about divorce and social media, it may be helpful to speak with an experienced attorney.
Source: Huffington Post, “Step Away From the Computer: Why Divorce And The Internet Don’t Mix,” Jason Marks, Oct. 15, 2012