From Facebook and Instagram to Tik Tok and Twitter, social media has become part of our daily lives. We use our accounts to share photos, videos, and even personal thoughts for friends, family members, and even the public.
But when you are going through a divorce, your spouse may use your social media activity against you to gain an advantage in certain matters, such as child custody, spousal support, and even property division. Common examples of detrimental social media activity include tweets and status updates about the divorce proceedings or other private matters, photos or videos of alcohol consumption or drug use, check-ins with your children in places where you or they should not be, and posting inappropriate content.
The following are several tips to protect yourself and your divorce on social media:
Stop posting altogether – While many people use their social media accounts to vent their frustrations and issues they are dealing with, nothing good will come out of sharing details of your divorce, your finances, or your private life. You don’t want to post something you may have to read later in court. Now is the time to take a break from social media platforms and focus on yourself and your children. In addition, ask your loved ones to stop posting on your behalf or tagging you in posts.
Change your passwords – Married couples share everything, including passwords to e-mails, subscriptions, and even social media accounts. A jealous or vengeful soon-to-be-ex-spouse may be curious enough to log onto your accounts and read your direct messages on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. If you block the other spouse on all your accounts, he/she may know your passwords to regain access to them. When creating new passwords, avoid using any information that may be familiar to the other spouse, like anniversary dates, birthdays, or the names of your children or pets.
Block your ex and his/her friends – Block or otherwise remove your spouse and his/her friends from your social media profiles. Although you may believe that deleting or unfollowing people other than your spouse is unfriendly, you do not want to risk having them relay private or personal information back to your spouse. Furthermore, disable all location tracking services, which allow friends to always see your current location.
Do not delete your social media posts – Deleting content or even an account could be considered tampering with evidence. Your spouse may also accuse you of attempting to conceal evidence or information.
If you want to file for divorce in St. Louis, MO, call Kallen Law Firm, LLC at (314) 441-7793 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation. Also serving clients in Chesterfield, St. Charles, St. Louis County, and the surrounding areas.
