A majority of people are on some form of social media these days, including children and adults from all generations. According to Pew Research, almost 70% of people have a Facebook account, while nearly 40% have an Instagram account. Including those social media users, many people also have Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Twitter accounts. While some social media platforms are more common among younger users, social media apps like Facebook are actually popular among a wide variety of age groups. According to Pew Research, “nearly half of those 65 and older say they use the site,” while almost 70% of people between the ages of 50 to 64 also use Facebook. The social media app also attracts users in much younger age groups.
All of this is to say that social media should be considered in any divorce, regardless of the age of the spouses. If you are planning to file for a Michigan divorce soon, or if you are currently in the midst of a divorce, you might be wondering: Can I post on social media during my divorce case?
Consider Taking a Break From Social Media
Although social media is a useful way to keep in touch with old friends and classmates and to share personal stories with friends and family members, it is often a good idea to take a break from social media during your divorce. If you are not active on social media, you do not have to worry that anything you post could ultimately hurt your divorce case, and you will not need to worry about any friends “tagging” you in any posts or photographs that could be potentially damaging.
Realize That Social Media Can Hurt You
If you do decide to remain active on social media during your divorce case, you should think extremely carefully about what you do post, and you should make certain that you will not appear in any posts or photographs from friends or family members that could affect your divorce case. In short, social media posts could hurt you in your divorce.
Social media posts could suggest that you should not be eligible for spousal maintenance based on photos of yourself on vacation or, on the flip side, photos could suggest that you are, in fact, able to pay spousal maintenance even though you have been making an argument to the contrary. To be clear, social media posts, including pictures, can show that you have a certain level of expendable income.
In addition, if you have minor children from the marriage, posting any images or information on social media that suggests there are reasons to limit child custody or parenting time could be detrimental in your divorce case.
Contact Our Michigan Divorce Attorneys
Before you make any decisions about posting on social media or discussing issues pertaining to your divorce with friends, family members, or colleagues, it is important to seek advice from an experienced divorce lawyer in Michigan. Our firm can begin working with you on your divorce case today and can answer any questions you have. Contact the Law Offices of Michael A. Robbins to learn more about how we can help with your Michigan divorce.