The world is shrinking due in large part to the web of digital resources that people in Illinois and across the world use each day. Web-based tools like Facebook and Twitter allow people to connect with their friends and family, follow celebrities and media stories and promote themselves for potential employment opportunities all through a few quick key strokes. While social media and digital technologies have helped bring people closer together, they can also make things difficult for people trying to separate or divorce.
A financial expert who works with people going through divorce cautions that information shared on social media sites can impact how a couple’s property is divided and how their divorce is resolved. For example, many couples have common friends who they maintain as contacts through social media. If one member of a divorcing couple shares something about his or her financial situation that he or she would not want the other partner to know, that information may get back to the partner and brought up in divorce proceedings.
Additionally, many people use social media as a medium for venting their frustration and other emotions about their disputes with their partners. While some people are internet-savvy and understand that information shared on social media becomes permanent, others may not realize that what they put in writing on the internet can come back to haunt them down the road during a divorce.
For individuals who are preparing for or going through a divorce, it is a good idea for them to be aware of how they use social media. Responsibly using social media can be entertaining and a healthy way to stay in contact with friends during a difficult time, but the careless use of such technologies can quickly find their way into divorce proceedings and can influence how divorce determinations are made.
Source: Forbes, “How Social Media Can Affect Your Divorce,” Jeff Landers, Aug. 20, 2013