From sharing photos with friends and family on Facebook to networking with colleagues on LinkedIn, like many Americans, you may find yourself increasingly relying on social media platforms to connect and communicate. The Pew Research Center reports that roughly 69% of U.S. adults have accounts on Facebook, and most users of the site visit it at least once every day.
Unfortunately, many Americans do not realize that, during a divorce, all that online activity may become fair game in court. If you are considering separation from your spouse, you should know that an opposing attorney may be able to use information gathered from social media sites against you.
Do not assume privacy settings will keep your data private
While it is essential to monitor and maintain privacy settings on all social media apps you use, you should not assume that those settings will work perfectly. In 2018, a Facebook bug that occurred while the site was testing a new feature changed the default privacy settings of up to 14 million accounts from private to public.
Be mindful about what you share online
Even seemingly innocent online activity may provide potential evidence that paints you in a negative light. For instance, check-ins at restaurants, bars or other locations may reveal information about your social life and spending habits as well as your whereabouts at certain dates and times.
It is probably obvious that you should avoid posting evidence of questionable behavior. However, you should also keep in mind that a determined opposing attorney may be able to take many types of online information out of context and use it against you in court.
Avoid using social media sites for emotional support
Venting online may feel therapeutic, especially during a contentious divorce, but you should avoid visiting social media sites for emotional support. You may end up saying things in anger that you do not really mean and that do not reflect who you are. Even if you have carefully purged your contacts list and locked down your privacy settings, it only takes one mutual friend or acquaintance to share a private post and make the information public.
