People in Texas who spend more time on social media might have unhappier marriages. This was the finding of a Boston University study that found a link between social media usage and the quality of marriages. While married and even when contemplating divorce, people should avoid posting negative things about a spouse online. They may want to consider reviewing past posts and privacy settings. They may also want to remove people from the contacts list who are likely to cause problems.
Once the divorce is underway, this policy of discretion should continue. It can be tempting to vent about a spouse, but this is best done to family and friends offline. If a couple is divorcing amicably, they might want to make an agreement about when they will announce it on social media. Parents who are concerned about the privacy of their children may want to include guidelines in divorce paperwork about discussing them or posting their photos on social media.
People who do not have children may feel free to relax these guidelines after divorce, but it still may be best to avoid negative posts about an ex-spouse, particularly if they still share professional and social contacts. Parents should keep in mind that things they post online could be used against them in future child custody or support hearings.
If a divorce is not amicable and a person suspects that the other spouse is hiding assets or neglecting their children, there could be evidence on social media. Even if there is nothing on social media to indicate that either of these are true, a person who believes this is happening may want to consult an attorney about what to do. For example, if the child is unsafe with the other parent, that parent might be limited to supervised visitation.