Those who are going through a divorce should be careful when using social media so that they do not hinder the emotional healing process.
Many people in Texas use social media websites to stay connected with their friends and family members. According to the Pew Research Center, as of January 2014, approximately 74 percent of all online adults used social networking sites. Although social networking can be beneficial, those going through the difficult process of divorce should be careful about how they use these websites as they end their marriage.
Avoiding social media anxiety
During the divorce process, the use of social media sites can make it harder for former spouses to move on emotionally. To prevent unnecessary stress caused by these sites, The Huffington Posts states that divorcees should:
- Use social media to arrange in-person events – those going through the divorce process should use social media to arrange social gatherings and meetings with their friends and acquaintances.
- Think before posting unkind information – during the divorce process, former spouses should refrain from posting angry photos or statuses about their ex-spouse.
- Change their passwords – in many relationships, spouses share their social media passwords. Once the decision to divorce is made, former spouses should change these passwords as soon as possible.
- Remove poignant photos – those who constantly look at photos on their social media profiles of their past marriage may make it difficult for themselves to move on. To combat this, those going through a divorce should go through and remove some of these pictures.
Former spouses who have a difficult time refraining from posting information about their divorce online, staying off of their ex-partner’s profile or looking at old pictures posted online should consider staying off of social media as divorce-related proceedings progress. Although this may be difficult, divorcees who do this may be able to gain the space they need from their former spouse as they heal emotionally.
How social media can affect the divorce process
While using social media can have an emotional effect on divorcees, it can also impact divorce proceedings relating to child custody, alimony and property division. For example, social media can help former spouses determine if their ex-partner is trying to hide assets, states Forbes. If a former spouse claims that he or she cannot afford to pay child support or alimony in court, but his or her Facebook profile contains multiple pictures of a new car or an expensive vacation, this assertion may not be upheld.
Those getting a divorce in Texas may have concerns about how social media could affect them during this legal process. If you have similar apprehensions, speak with an attorney in your area to determine what you can do to protect your best interests.
Keywords: divorce, social media, property, division