Nowadays, social media is a major part of everyday life for many people. If you are among them, you may not think twice before posting pictures, updating your friends about your plans for the evening or otherwise sharing your world, but doing so amid divorce may have unintended consequences.
To avoid having anything you post potentially come back to haunt you during divorce proceedings, consider taking the following actions with regard to your use of social media.
1. Ask yourself how important it is to you
The easiest way to avoid social media missteps during divorce is to avoid using it altogether. If that is not realistic for you, try to wait for a bit before making any posts. Sometimes, doing so can make you recognize when a post may cause you divorce-related damage. If you do decide to post after waiting and mulling the decision, exercise discretion in what you make public.
2. Remember the internet is forever
Images and thoughts you post online can remain there permanently. Even if you, personally, make the decision to delete them, the odds are, someone, somewhere, has a record of your post, and it may not be as tough to find as you might want to believe.
3. Avoid posting any racy or intimate images or video
In addition to avoiding posting personal photos of yourself online during the divorce, do not post any of your partner, either. Displaying or distributing such images via social media without direct consent, regardless of intent, may be a criminal act, and it could potentially hurt you in your divorce proceedings.
In addition to being careful about what you post and share via social media during your divorce, you should exercise the same caution when using email or when texting on your phone. Taking a “better safe than sorry” approach to the situation can help you avoid making decisions that may have unintentional but considerable impact. To discuss your specific situation, consider contacting an attorney.
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