How we behave on social media can have an impact on our real lives. This is true for anyone, but takes on added resonance for people who are currently in the process of getting divorced. Your online presence is an extension of yourself, and posts that may seem private in nature can be used against you in the eyes of the court. We mention this not to frighten anyone, but to express the importance of discretion and thoughtfulness during these times. This is why the family law attorneys at Oxendine Law are highlighting few suggestions that anyone should be aware of when using social media during a divorce.

People often use sites like Meta (Facebook & Instagram), X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and more as ways to express themselves. Almost like online diaries. However, these diaries are often public and your spouse, their legal representation, and the courts are privy to this information as well. In fact, survey data recorded by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) indicates that 81% of divorce attorneys report increasing numbers of spouses searching for online evidence that can be advantageous during a divorce. This includes suspicions of bad behavior, financial information, parenting methods, infidelity, online affairs, and more.

At Oxendine Law, we suggest that if you are in the divorce process, or preparing for the divorce process, you keep your social media accounts private. However, even with the highest privacy settings in place, we still insist that clients refrain from posting anything related to the divorce on social media. Even sharing a post or photo from another page can give the appearance of impropriety when used against you in court. So, if you need to vent, stick to doing that in-person or over the phone with a trusted friend or family member, and save all the posts for highlighting your post-divorce success, not your during-divorce drama.

While we get that social media might not be the most pressing thing on your mind during this time, this advice is not something to take for granted. In a recent episode of the Oxendine Law Podcast, Jarrod and Christine discuss how social media can impact a divorce:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7cfGo9ZLjlsdTznxgfm8Zt?utm_source=generator

If you have any needs of your own regarding family law matters like divorce or child custody, contact Oxendine Law at (770) 497-8688 today to schedule a family law consultation in-person, over the phone, or by video conference. Don’t forget to follow along with us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for additional family law tips, news, radio segments, and more.