Virginia residents who are going through the divorce process might want to pause their social media usage until it is finalized. If not, they might want to be careful about what they post, and even what they search for, as the content can both affect them emotionally and have negative legal repercussions.
The effects of social media usage
According to research, social media use is having an impact on relationships. In fact, 1 of 5 divorces includes mention of Facebook as a contributing factor. As well, many people search for evidence of affairs and other behavior by their spouses through social media. The opposite seems to be true as well. People who are not as active on social media seem to be 11% happier in their marriages. Once the marriage has fallen apart, social media usage can also impact the divorce process, with spouses using posts by their exes during litigation.
How to use social media during divorce
Experts agree that it might be best to simply pause the use of social media during the divorce process. However, if you do continue to use it, there are things you can do to lessen its effect on you, your children and the process itself. These things include:
- Using the highest privacy settings and removing your relationship status
- Limiting your posts to positive ideas and to neutral concepts such as you enjoying your hobbies
- Avoiding using it to vent about the divorce or your ex-spouse
- Refraining from asking friends and family members to spy on your ex through social media
- Checking your children’s accounts to be aware of what they are posting and how they are dealing with the divorce
Social media can be an enjoyable outlet to share good news with family and friends. However, it can also be a threatening platform that could hurt you during the divorce process. Be conscious and careful about your posts.