If you use social media, you are in good company. After all, according to Pew, as many as 81% of Americans regularly use at least one social media platform. While posting to social media is usually harmless, it also can complicate your divorce.
Before you log onto your favorite social media platform, you should think about how your online activities could potentially make things worse for you during your divorce. Here are some ways your social media activity can do just that.
Irritating your soon-to-be ex-spouse
If you do not want your divorce to turn into a knock-down, drag-out battle, you are going to need some cooperation from your spouse. That is, you and your spouse must work together to negotiate the end of your marriage. If your social media posts irritate your soon-to-be ex, he or she might not be willing to negotiate with you.
Paying more in spousal support
To get through the emotional turmoil of your divorce, you might want to make some flashy purchases or take an exotic vacation. You also might want to show everyone just how ok you are by posting evidence of your lavish purchases on social media. Doing so, though, might make it difficult to argue you cannot afford to pay spousal support.
Losing custody of your kids
If you have children, you might have to deal with a custody dispute. If your social media posts make you appear to be an unfit, irresponsible or dangerous parent, though, you might not end up with the custody arrangement you want. Indeed, your spouse’s attorney may use your social media posts to argue you should lose custody.
Ultimately, even though you probably do not have to avoid social media altogether, you should think long and hard about everything you post to social media during your divorce.
