Navigating Social Media During a Maryland Divorce: 5 Tips to Protect Yourself
According to one survey published earlier this year by SOAX, about 73 percent of the U.S. population currently uses some form of social media. This broadly includes not just the big public-facing platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, but also popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Apple’s iMessage. Overall, SOAX estimated the average person spends about 2 hours and 9 minutes each day using at least one of these platforms.
Indeed, social media usage has become so ingrained in our culture that most of us do not even stop to think before posting a picture, video, or comment about our day-to-day activities. But if you are in the process of getting a divorce, or even contemplating one, you need to be aware of how your social media usage might affect your case. While every situation is different, here are five simple tips to help protect your interests during a Maryland divorce.
1. Avoid Discussing Your Case Online
This might seem like obvious advice, but when you are in the midst of a difficult and significant life change like a divorce, many people’s instinct is to share their experiences with their online friends and followers. This can lead to trouble. Even seemingly innocuous “venting” about your divorce can be interpreted by your spouse, and their attorney, as an attack, which in turn can make it more difficult to negotiate a settlement or otherwise calm down an already tense situation.
2. Anything You Post May Be Discoverable
Social media platforms often provide a false sense of privacy. You may think that just because you make a comment to someone in a direct message or restrict access to your Facebook posts that your spouse will not find out what you are saying. The reality is that anything you post online is subject to possible discovery as part of your divorce case.
3. Preserve Any Evidence You Think Might Help
On the flip side, if you see your spouse posting anything on their social media accounts that you think might be helpful to your case, it is a good idea to take a screenshot and keep a copy for your own records. This is especially important if your spouse later deletes said posts for any reason.
4. Be Deliberate Before Posting Anything
Even if you are committed to not posting anything directly about your divorce to social media, you still need to be deliberate before making posts of any kind while your case is pending. For example, if you are seeking primary custody of your children, posting about how you are constantly taking business trips away from home may be interpreted by a judge as proof you cannot provide a stable home environment.
5. Speak with a Qualified Maryland Divorce Attorney
Before making any kind of public statement on social media about your divorce, it is best to consult with a lawyer about the specific facts of your case. Our La Plata divorce lawyer is here to offer advice and guidance. Contact Fanning Law today at 301-934-3620 to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in LaPlata, Waldorf, and Lexington Park.
Source:
soax.com/research/what-percentage-of-americans-use-social-media
