Want a Smoother Divorce? Stay Offline
While you may be tempted to vent or see what your ex-spouse is up to on social media, it is recommended to stay offline during a divorce. The reason for this is because what you say or do on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or even email can be used against you if you are not cautious. We know that you can become angry and say things in the moment that you wish you could take back. However, once you post something online, it becomes available for the world to see and can be printed instantly with one click of a button. This can affect your divorce proceedings in multiple ways, such as:
#1. If children are involved, you could affect your custody arrangements
If you have children and are going through a divorce, you are most likely going through a tough battle for custody as well. Therefore, you must be able to prove to a judge that you deserve custody of your children over their other parent. However, it is important to know that you can hurt your chances of gaining custody by even one single threat or derogatory comment toward your ex-spouse on social media or email. That said, if custody of your child is at the forefront of your divorce, it is critical that you stay offline until your hearing.
#2. You could give away too much information
After going through a depressing breakup, it is understandable that you want to post on social media about the amazing drinks you are having, the new car you just bought, and the recent basketball game you attended. This is normal behavior for humans as we all want to share our positive moments with others. However, you may want to take it easy when it comes to giving away too much information. The reason for this is because a judge could see these as unnecessary spending habits, and your ex-spouse could think that you have loads of cash stashed away. Even if you saved for weeks or months to go and do these things, it is highly recommended that you do not announce them to the world publicly during your divorce.
#3. You could feel pressured to keep tabs on your ex-spouse
While it is difficult to face a new reality of being alone, it is best that you do not log into social media every hour to keep tabs on your ex-spouse and see what they are doing. This is not only unproductive, but it will continue to bring your mood down and potentially cause you to do something that you may regret. Instead, the best thing you can do is block or unfollow your ex-spouse as well as their friends and family members. This will ensure that you are not spending your time watching their every move, which will ultimately give you peace of mind.
#4. The judge may get the wrong idea about you
Even though social media only gives people a very small picture of what a person’s life, personality, and feelings are like, anything that you say or post online can be interpreted the wrong way or taken out of context. Therefore, when you become angry about something your ex-spouse has done and decide to post about it on your social media, you are opening the door for the judge of your case to get the wrong idea about you. That said, it is suggested that you stay off social media to ensure that your ex-spouse cannot print your posts and use them against you, giving the judge an opportunity to misjudge you.
If you decide to stay online, be very careful
Grable Grimshaw PLLC has helped countless clients navigate the difficulties of divorce. One of the main issues we see among our clients is the many risks that being online can bring to their divorces. We know and understand that everyone has a social life even while going through a divorce. So, if you decide to stay online, that is your personal choice. However, we advise you to tread lightly when posting anything for the world to see. Here are a few common things that you should refrain from doing throughout the divorce proceedings:
- Do not announce your divorce: While you may want to let the world know that you are separated or going through a divorce, it is recommended that you refrain from doing this until the divorce is final. If you keep this information offline, you can avoid a lot of drama going forward.
- Do not post or message hateful comments about or to your ex-spouse: Although your ex-spouse knows how to get under your skin and make you mad, it is critical that you do not post negative comments about them online or even message them hateful or threatening words. If you need someone to vent to, you should only talk to people in person, such as a friend, family member, therapist, or lawyer.
- Do not post anything that can be seen as irresponsible: When you are having a good time, partying, and getting your mind off the divorce, it may be tempting to post about all the fun you are having. However, this type of post can easily be considered “irresponsible” and may give your ex-spouse an advantage in the divorce or custody case.
When you are thinking about doing something online, our advice is to always ask yourself, “Can this potentially affect my divorce or custody case.” If you are positive that the answer is no, then you should proceed carefully.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding social media during a divorce, we encourage you to reach out to Grable Grimshaw PLLC at your earliest convenience. Being cautious or staying offline will ensure that no new challenges or obstacles regarding your social media posts will arise. However, if any difficulties throughout the divorce or custody process do emerge, a divorce lawyer from our firm can assist you. Call our office in San Antonio or submit our contact form today for a consultation.