We post everything online, and many of us are on the edge of oversharing. You post photos of your vacations, pets, and even what you had for dinner last night. However, many people do not realize social media is playing a larger role in family law cases, by gathering information about your life from blogs, Facebook posts, dating websites and other platforms.
In addition to watching over your own online activity during a divorce or custody case, you should also keep an eye on your children’s social media posts and activities. Here are a few suggestions we advise about your children and their online activity:
- We suggest that you do not allow your kids unsupervised access to social media. Monitor their posts and what is said on their pages, and periodically spot check their conversations.
- Discuss what content is age appropriate for them to see and post.
- Do not post anything you wouldn’t want a judge to see.
These rules also apply to your social media etiquette. Pause before posting, and ask yourself if this is something you would want to have to defend to a judge. If you have any doubt, do not post it.
Additionally, your behavior on social media could directly impact your kids emotionally, as well as affect your divorce or a custody case. We suggest you do not:
- Post negative comments about your spouse or kids
- Reference drugs or alcohol
- Share private information about your family
- Post provocative pictures.
Everything you say online could potentially be used in court during a divorce. It is important to think twice before sharing facts about your personal life online. This also extends to your children and what they share online. Practice discretion and keep personal information off line.
Social media is interwoven into several aspects of modern life. However, it is vital to have proper online etiquette, especially during a divorce or custody proceedings. You don’t want a Facebook post to jeopardize your case. If you have questions on how social media could impact your case, you should speak with an attorney with experience in this area.