What are the most common mistakes people make on social media during divorce?

These days, so much of our lives are lived online through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat and Twitter. We share the good, the bad and the ugly with the simple push of a button, often without thought to what the fallout might be. When it comes to divorce, there are a lot of psychological and emotional factors that lead us to post certain things, like how we really feel about our ex, to how fast we’ve moved on and are enjoying life. Unfortunately, one ill-advised post can seriously affect your divorce. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make during their divorce.

#1 Making “The Announcement” Too Quickly

When faced with a tough decision, many people advocate for the “rip the band-aide off” approach. If your marriage is on the rocks and you are considering divorce, ripping the band-aide off by changing your relationship status on social media can lead to deeply hurt feelings and bruised egos. This, in turn, can cause your spouse to be less than cooperative during your divorce process, which may cost you more time and money.

#2 Throwing Shade on Your Ex

Divorce is a stressful and painful process. Letting off steam can be a healthy part of that process. However, using social media as a platform to express your frustration over the fact that your ex cannot be relied upon to pick up your children on time can eventually backfire on you. Not only can this outburst find its way back to your kids, it can also be used against you by opposing counsel during your divorce.

The best thing you can do when you are feeling frustrated by your ex is to pick up the phone and vent to a trusted friend. When it comes to posting on social media during divorce, stick to adorable puppy videos and inspirational quotes.

#3 Posting Incriminating Photos

As we touched on in #2, opposing counsel loves to scour the Internet for things they can use against you during your divorce. This includes the pictures of you on Instagram doing shots with your new fling. Sure, this may have been at your grandparent’s birthday party, but it will be used against you in the least flattering way in a custody battle. During your divorce, avoid posting pictures of you in any situation that might be construed as incriminating in any way.

#4 Sharing Too Many Details of Divorce Process

There are certain things that happen during the divorce process that should not be shared with anyone. This includes confidential attorney-client discussions; confidential court proceedings or other information that the parties have agreed will remain confidential. Sharing these things on social media can drastically hurt your case.

Keeping Your Cool During Your Divorce

If you are thinking about divorce, the best thing you can do is to talk to an experienced divorce attorney about your options. Mr. Swavely has over 25 years of experience assisting clients through the divorce process. Request a consultation or call today at (610) 816-6366.