Social Media, Detrimental to Your Marriage and Your Divorce

Social media sites are being blamed for breaking up many marriages.  A recent study revealed that one-third of all divorce filings in the year 2011 contained the word “Facebook.” While this is a startling statistic, it’s important to keep in mind that social media can have just as big an effect on your divorce as it had on your marriage.

First, a look at how social media negatively affects marriages.  We all know that you can learn a lot about a person by examining their social media posts and pictures.  Many people on social media use the sites to post derogatory and demeaning comments about their spouses.  Many other married persons use the sites to flirt. Sometimes, a Facebook user even  “checks in” at a bar or other place they shouldn’t be, completely forgetting that everyone can see where they were at a given moment. Facebook can also be used to reconnect people who used to date each other or to send a friend request to an attractive acquaintance, keeping those people in the field of temptation.  All of these uses of social media can be detrimental to a marriage.

Second, social media can negatively affect your divorce if you aren’t careful.  If you post incriminating information on social media, your spouse can see the information herself when she views your page (if you haven’t unfriended her and if your privacy settings allow it).  Other times, mutual friends may tell your spouse about the postings or pictures, or your spouse may hire a private detective to comb through your social media accounts.

Your spouse can use this information during the divorce proceedings to show that something you are trying to establish is not true. For instance, if you are trying to prove that you are a responsible parent entitled to custody of your child, your spouse’s lawyer could pull up your Facebook page or your child’s page in a deposition or trial and show pictures suggesting neglect, such as excessive partying during your parenting time.

So, think twice before you post on social media and, when in doubt, consult your reliable Brentwood divorce attorney who can help you do the right thing.