Social media often displays the highlight reels of courtship these days. Sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter can make any marriage look heavenly.
But often, those platforms typically only show the happy times, which may not outweigh the constant fighting, affairs or money issues that can cause any marriage to fall apart. If you and your spouse divorce, social media can quickly turn from a medium to share your highest highs to a weapon your spouse can use against you in court.
Because of this, you may want to stay offline for the time being. That’s because the emotional and financial turbulence that comes with separation can cause people to post things they probably shouldn’t.
Why you may want to log off for a while
Social media can be a great way to connect with friends and loved ones during this unsettling time in your life. However, highlighting what you’re doing during the divorce could limit your chances of getting a favorable settlement. Here are a few ways that could happen:
- You’re trying to get custody of your kids when you or a friend uploads a photo of you partying and drinking from the night before.
- You’re trying to reduce your child support payments; however, you post about a new job promotion or a new luxury vehicle you purchased.
- You or your new partner post pictures of you on vacation when you told the judge you couldn’t watch your kids.
- You set up an online dating profile that provides misleading information from what your spouse says about you in court.
- You post negative and disparaging things about your spouse online, making you look uncooperative.
While these are just a few scenarios that could land you in trouble with a judge, there are plenty of others where your social media posts could get held against you.
You can find better options for coping
In an age of instant gratification, you may want to tell your success story through your online posts. However, doing so can come with a variety of consequences. Luckily, there are other ways you can cope with this challenging time in your life. Whether that’s talking to a therapist or going to a support group, there are plenty of other ways you can share your triumphs and tragedies without discussing on a public forum.
