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Divorce has a way of throwing every aspect of your life into turmoil, which can make protecting your parental and financial rights throughout the process that much more challenging. Over the years, social media has become the primary source that many of us turn to when we need to unwind, share, vent, connect, and seek advice, but the truth is that – if you are not careful – social media during divorce can negatively affect the way your divorce terms are resolved. If you are facing a divorce, the trusted divorce attorneys at the Colorado Divorce Law Group – (720) 593-6442 – have a track record of helping clients successfully navigate the obstacles they face, including that social media behavior to avoid during a divorce.

The Terms of Your Divorce

While your divorce will be specific to you, your spouse, and the circumstances involved, the terms that you will need to resolve remain the same for everyone who faces a divorce, including:

• The allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time (what you may think of as your child custody arrangements)
• Child support (as overseen by the Child Support Services Program)
• The equitable division of martial property
• Spousal maintenance or alimony (as governed by Colorado Revised Statutes 2021)

Any one of these terms can be subtly – or not so subtly – affected by your social media posts during divorce, which makes having a better understanding of social media behavior to avoid during a divorce paramount.

What Should You Not Post on Social Media during a Divorce?

If you are concerned about what you should not post on social media while your divorce is pending, you are on the right track. The fact is that divorce can become so highly charged that taking a social media break is often the best course of action. If this, however, is not a great option for you, there are some important tips regarding what not to post that can help you make good choices moving forward.

Remember that There Is no Such Thing as Privacy When It Comes to Social Media

No matter how careful you are with your privacy settings, you should not hold onto any expectation of privacy when it comes to your posts and photos. In the end, a simple screenshot of something that originated from your account can come back to haunt your divorce case – and in some instances, can be surprisingly effective at doing serious damage. It is important to remember that, if your case is resolved in court, the judge will have considerable discretion regarding your divorce terms, and you do not want a throwaway remark or a poorly chosen photo that you posted on social media to move the needle in favor of your soon-to-be ex.

Avoid Airing Your Dirty Laundry

If you are going through a divorce, it is only natural to feel overwhelmed, hurt, and possibly even betrayed, and while discussing your feelings and concerns with a trusted counselor, family member, or friend is perfectly appropriate, sharing your ire on social media is not. You can expect anything you post on social media to get back to your divorcing spouse, and if one of your photos or comments hits a nerve with him or her, it can make your divorce not only more contentious but also more time-consuming and more costly. Additionally, when you attempt to publicly shame your children’s other parent, you do a disservice to your children, which can reflect poorly on you as a parent.

Avoid Sharing More than You Intend to Share

When it comes to social media, it is very easy to share far more than you intend to, and while this may not be a major concern most of the time, it can be if you are going through a difficult divorce. For example, posting a photo of you that documents a budding new romance you entered after separating from your spouse can be a bad look in divorce court – especially if accusations of infidelity are involved. Social media posts are often mined for ammunition during divorce, and any of the following tend to suffice:

• Photos of vacations or lavish spending
• Veiled references to recreational drug use
• Photos that depict or suggest overindulgence in alcohol
• Photos or comments that allude to inadequate parenting

It is also an excellent idea to toggle off the geotagging option on the social media platforms you use – the additional data generated can be gathered, processed, and used against you in court. There is a lot to consider when it comes to social medial and divorce, but the seasoned divorce attorneys at Colorado Divorce Law Group have the legal insight to help.

Can What You Post on Social Media Affect Your Divorce?

Your social media posts can affect your divorce both directly and indirectly. While Colorado is a no-fault state when it comes to divorce, this does not mean that the judge will not be influenced by the specifics of your marriage and divorce as seen through the lens of social media.

Can Social Media Be Used against You in a Divorce?

A belief that social media cannot be used against you in divorce is to your own detriment. Social media can turn up the heat on your divorce by inadvertently providing your ex with information that can be weaponized against you. Proceeding with caution is always the best practice.

Seek the Legal Guidance of an Experienced Colorado Divorce Attorney Today

The savvy divorce attorneys at Colorado Divorce Law Group have reserves of impressive experience helping clients like you avoid social media blunders throughout the divorce process. Because protecting your parental and financial rights is critical, our practiced legal team is well prepared to help you better understand which social media behavior to avoid during a divorce. Your case and your rights are important, so please do not delay reaching out and contacting or calling us at (720) 593-6442 for more information about how we can help you today.