Why Turning To Social Media During Your Divorce Could Be A Mistake
Whether you love Facebook or adore Instagram and Twitter, if you're like most you cannot imagine getting through the day without checking in. While posting has become second nature to some, you might want to be cautious about your posts if going through a divorce. The more stressed out you are and more likely you are to turn to social media for support the more likely you are to make mistakes. Read on to find out why.
Facebook Stalking
Once a relationship sours, it's easy to slip into behaviors you might never have imagined yourself doing during better days. Unfortunately, it's so tempting to see social media as a crutch to help you get through a transition period. Losing a relationship is hard, and many people need counseling to cope, but if you continue to follow your soon-to-be ex on social media it can be like rubbing salt into a wound.
It can be even worse if your ex appears to have moved on while you are still hurting and vulnerable. You may be shocked at how your ex can seem so cold and insensitive as to post photos of them with their new love interests before you've even signed any divorce paperwork. Going through a divorce is bad enough; don't add to your misery by stalking your ex on Facebook or anywhere else. Go ahead and "unfriend" them or block them from your feed to prevent animosity from overflowing into more important areas, like child custody negotiations.
Your Fresh Start
Inappropriate posting works both ways, of course. You may take the attitude that nothing is going to keep you down and you will make the best of a bad situation. This is a great way to look at divorce, but be careful about how you express those feelings on social media. You never know when a divorce issue might rear its head and you definitely don't want to put your reputation at risk by posting about sketchy behavior online. For example, if you and your ex are battling it out for child custody you might want to reconsider that photo of you doing belly shots in Cancun.
Another issue is money, as it always is with divorce. You may need and deserve spousal support, but posting photos of the spoils of a shopping spree won't help your cause at all. Lest you believe that your posts are private, know that the other side can get a subpoena to view everything you post, regardless.
Don't Isolate Yourself
There is nothing to compare with face-to-face interactions, and you need the intimacy of that kind of contact during a divorce more than ever. Social media is a poor substitute for one-on-one conversations and venting sessions, and it could damage your divorce case. Speak to a divorce attorney like those at Seiler & Parker PC to learn more.
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