If you’ve ever gotten that feeling that social media has gotten far too involved in our personal lives, you may very well be correct. A recent survey reveals that one in seven people consider divorcing their spouse at one point during their marriage because of their conduct on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and What’sApp.
In a 2010 survey from the American Society of Matrimonial Lawyers, over 80 percent said they saw an uptick in their caseload as their clients started integrating social media into their lives. The attorneys said Facebook was the number one source for finding online evidence, with 66 percent admitting they’d found evidence by combing the site.
What’s at the core of this volatile reaction? Most couples say it’s a question of trust. Over half of all people surveyed don’t even realize that their spouses know their social media passwords and routinely check their accounts for things like infidelity and “friendships” with people of whom they disapprove. If you’re currently going through a divorce, there’s a real possibility that your spouse can use evidence from your social media profile(s) against you. You may seriously want to curtail all remotely questionable activity until the process is finalized and you’re able to act freely.
One of the main problems is that people tend to “reveal” different versions of themselves when they’re on their computers or smartphones. Anonymity enables them to do and say things they might not otherwise do or say when they’re face-to-face with someone. This causes people to become suspicious of their spouses’ character and sparks further investigation that can lead to distrust, fighting and eventually divorced.
If social media has propelled your marriage toward collapse, contact an experienced attorney to help you protect yourself and expedite the divorce process.
For many years, Graziano & Flynn has been helping clients move through their divorces with minimal time and collateral damage. Contact us today so we can begin to protect your interests regarding spousal support, child custody and more.
