Social media and divorce
Social media has become an integral part of life for many of us. Now it is easier than ever to connect with friends and loved ones in an instant, wherever they may be over the world.
Social media can be used as evidence
It's all too easy to feel a sense of freedom on social media accounts ‚you express your feelings sometimes without thinking. It is important to note however the wide audience of social media. Someone you may not wish to see your comments or posts may have read them. In addition, deleting comments after they have been posted may not undo the damage done.
We will look at some of areas where social media can sometimes be used as evidence.
Messages on social media
Screenshots of statuses, comments, posts and messages from social media are used more and more in Court proceedings as evidence. These may be offensive or angry messages between former partners as proof of behaviour or proof of one partys' version of events. For example, a party may say that they are not in a new relationship, but their social media site clearly states otherwise with photographs and status updates confirming a new relationship.
Audit trail
One party may be pursuing a specific case when going through a divorce. One example would be a party pleading poverty either so they do not have to give away as much by way of assets or so that they can try and obtain more from their former partner. It is not unheard of for that party to be caught out by their spouse after being careless on social media, by updating their profile or posting photographs of lavish purchases, holidays, meals out and their spending habits generally.
Your divorce solicitor will no doubt have personal recollections of cases where performance cars, boats, and large business expenses have all been shown on social media. There’s little point saying business has been tough for last few years if social media is displaying otherwise!
Behaviour
Threatening and coercive behaviour can sometimes be substantiated through social media accounts also. For example private messages can be used in family law courts to show direct messages sent to a potential victim if those messages are threatening, coercive or harassing in nature.
Also on the other side of the coin social media can be used to provoke a reaction from an ex-partner on purpose. A partner who may be mild mannered and civil may be portrayed as an out of control risk by the use of provoking a partner extensively on social media accounts. Keeping a low profile, ensuring you have enhanced privacy settings and even blocking certain individuals may be a good idea to ensure you are safe and protecting yourself online.
It is always wise to be careful about what you say on the internet and on social media. There is a wide audience and though you may feel your comments are harmless, they may be interpreted differently by a third party.
Substance misuse
Social media gives us a window into some people's personal lives. A person may unwittingly announce to use illegal substances on social media. For instance, after a night out a friend may comment on a persons actions witnessed the night before- which may later be confirmed by the person in question. Photo messages and comment strings often confirm actions that may be ill-advised and also damage a person's reputation in family law proceedings.
Final words of advice for couple s who use social media during and after a divorce
- Think about the ramifications of what is being openly or privately discussed on social media
- Ensure you have enhanced privacy settings</p>
- Delete or block followers who maybe connected to an ex and may communicate back about your comments</p>
- Consider closing accounts during a divorce</p>
- Change all your passwords and ensure your personal information is secure</p>
