The impact of social media on Wisconsin family law disputes

Social media has changed the way we interact with our friends, family and acquaintances. Some individuals use venues like Facebook and Twitter to document every aspect of their lives. While staying connected with family and friends is generally a good thing, individuals who are in the middle of a divorce or custody dispute need to be aware that the words and images they post may be used against them in court.

Unfortunately, it’s not just vicious postings and photos of inappropriate behavior that can cause trouble. Even seemingly innocent postings or photos of family activities and vacations can be harmful. For instance, an argument by a spouse that they cannot afford to pay spousal support could be hindered by pictures of luxurious vacations or fancy cars. If one parent criticizes the other parent on social media it may be used to show that they are undermining the other parent’s relationship with the child. It’s not just a spouse’s postings that can cause trouble. If a minor child posts pictures of themselves engaged in a dangerous activity, it could reflect poorly on the parent who was caring for the child at that time.

Deleting these posts and pictures does not ensure that negative information will not surface in a divorce or custody proceeding. In some instances, these deletions can be construed as destroying evidence. The best advice is to consider how the posting or photo could be used by an estranged spouse prior to placing anything online.

Misuse of social media is just one of the many innocent mistakes made by individuals who are in the midst of divorce and custody proceedings. A divorce attorney may be able to help individuals avoid or lessen the impact of seemingly innocuous postings.

Source: The Huffington Post, “The Divorce Mistakes You Don’t Even Know You’re Making“, Taryn Hillin, March 18, 2014