Social media and divorce oftentimes go hand-in-hand. Social media platforms allow distant friends and family members to keep in touch with each other about major life events, milestones, and other accomplishments. Although social media sites, like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, have privacy settings, people can still use these platforms to gain insight about someone's hobbies, spending habits, and schedules. Whenever you are facing a major life change or event, such as going through a divorce, eliminating social media postings altogether may be the best alternative. However, in some cases, that is not feasible or possible. In any case, it is extremely important to be aware of the effects that online postings have on divorce negotiations. If you are contemplating a divorce and do not know where to turn, the family law attorneys at Rick Banks Law may be able to assist you. What follows are some points to keep in mind when it comes to social media and divorce.
Online Postings Versus Information Exchanged Between the Parties
When online postings on social media sites contradict information exchanged by the parties in a divorce case, problems oftentimes arise. This is especially true in the context of the parties’ finances. You should be careful to avoid posting the following on social media while your divorce case is pending:
- Photos of expensive items purchased
- Vacation itineraries and other travel plans
- Tagged photos at an expensive resort or restaurant
While these postings may seem harmless, they have the potential to produce unintended consequences when it comes to divorce negotiations.
Child Custody Considerations
If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have minor children, child custody is likely going to be an issue in your divorce proceedings. If child custody is at issue in your case, you should avoid posting pictures on social media that feature a "significant other" with children of the marriage. This can be confusing for the children involved and can also stifle custody negotiations during the divorce proceedings.
General Tips to Keep in Mind
While your divorce case is pending, you should keep the following general tips in mind when it comes to online postings on social media platforms:
- Be careful of the information you are posting online – both in terms of written posts and also photographs. You should assume that anything you post online is fair game for anyone to discover.
- Be aware that many social media websites, including Facebook and Instagram, allow users to “tag” other in photos or videos, making this information available to the general public online.
- Be careful when sending and accepting friend requests – and when accepting "followers" on social media. Most people do not know all of their friends and followers on social media and may have never even met these people before. Keep in mind that your social media postings may be available to all of these people – whether you know them or not. You should also regularly monitor your privacy and security settings in order to keep tabs on who has access to your information and postings.
- You should try to limit your online presence as much as possible while your divorce case is pending, helping to reduce some of the stress to yourself and your children that naturally flows from the divorce process.
Speak to a Fresno Social Media and Divorce Lawyer Today
Divorce can be an extremely stressful process – especially when young children are involved. One way that you can help to reduce the stress associated with a divorce is to limit your social media postings and online presence. A Fresno divorce attorney can help you work towards reaching a favorable agreement with your ex-spouse on contested issues. Contact the Fresno social media and divorce lawyers at Rick Banks Law today: 559-222-4891.
