Oftentimes, people’s first thought about social media when they decide to divorce is that it can serve as a source of support. They may appreciate the idea of notifying everyone of the divorce at once instead of having dozens of uncomfortable conversations. People often use social media as a way to connect with friends and family members and work through their feelings.
Unfortunately, the way that people behave online during a divorce can end up hurting them in the long run. Certain types of behavior on social media during a divorce can lead to complications. The following are some of the most common mistakes people make with social media during divorce.
Defaming a spouse
It is a natural human reaction to view oneself as the hero and another person as the villain in a difficult scenario. People may try to paint their spouse as the villain in their divorce story on social media. Even if their claims have a basis in reality, they may open themselves up to claims of defamation. Without absolute proof of misconduct, statements maligning a spouse’s character can come back to haunt someone during a divorce.
Strategizing online
People often connect with friends and family members online. They may even join divorce support groups. What they fail to consider is that some of their friends or family may take the side of their spouse. Even if someone locks down their privacy settings, other people might screenshot their content and share it with their spouse. Any discussions about how someone intends to handle the divorce online could end up disclosed to their spouse. Therefore, attempts to strategize on social media could end up putting someone at a disadvantage later.
Sharing good fortune
People going through a difficult time may try to put a positive spin on their experience. While that might be a good exercise for protecting mental health, it can be a legally dangerous decision. Stories about new romances could lead to claims of infidelity. Sharing good fortune such as a raise or promotion might lead to complications during support or property division proceedings. People can weaponize good fortune as easily as they can leave out context to inflammatory or humorous posts.
Typically, people should avoid discussing pending legal matters on social media, including divorce. Those who keep their personal matters off of social media until after their divorces can minimize the risk of their spouses using their digital content as evidence against them. Learning from the mistakes of other people can help those preparing for divorce obtain the best outcome possible.