The short answer to the question posed by the title of this piece is yes. Your activities on social media can absolutely affect your case! The longer answer is even more troubling than that.

Bear in mind that “social media” covers a lot of territory, including websites like Facebook and Instagram, which is what most people think of when they talk about social media, but it also includes things like email and text messages. In fact, text messages are the most commonly used form of evidence in modern divorce cases, with email coming in a strong second. The bottom line is that any of the above can be used to build a case against you in a divorce proceeding.

The general rule of thumb here is that if you don’t want a judge to see it, don’t write it down. Be mindful of all websites you visit (web surfing histories count too!), and where possible, minimize your online presence during the course of the divorce proceeding. Anything you say can, and probably will be used against you, especially if the divorce has taken a bitter turn.

In addition to taking more precautions than usual when it comes to where you surf and what you say online, you’re also going to want to be much more mindful of your phone. Keep it close to you at all times. If your spouse should get his or her hands on it, there’s no telling what information it could reveal that could be used against you.

Of course, this is a double-edged sword. The same rules apply to your spouse, and if your spouse does not heed the advice about keeping a low online profile, then you may find yourself armed with all sorts of useful information that can help ensure you get the settlement you’re looking for.

Divorce is never pleasant, and when people start plying the waters of social media looking for something to use, it usually gets even uglier. Just know that as with any storm, it will pass. Your goal is to simply keep your head down and your wits about you until it does.