Divorce On Social Media: How Couples Handle Divorce In The Age of Facebook

The advent of social media sites has allowed people to promote every aspect of their life in front of the world. From jokes to job promotions, from dinners to dates, every social media user posts their news on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But how do couples in the midst of a legal separation handle news of their divorce on social media?

A recent article from the New York Times News Service posed the question about how couples deal with their divorce on social media sites. Do they update their friends, co-workers and employers of every facet of their divorce on social media sites? Or do they manage the “brand” of their marriage, and its dissolution, like a slickly-worded corporate press release?

Managing Divorce On Social Media

One of the main problems with dealing with divorce on social media is the change in “relationship status.” Some partners may want to change their relationship status from “married” to “divorced” or “single” immediately. Others may be more hesitant to reveal their status change to their friends and family. Some may choose to release joint statements about their divorce on social media. One couple posted a “divorce selfie”, displaying their divorce papers together with a smile.

Divorce on Social Media And High-Conflict Cases

However, not all couples post such amicable information about their divorce on social media. Couples in highly-contested cases may use their Facebook posts, Twitter messages or Instagram photos to demean or insult the other spouse. These cases show the problems in dealing with divorce on social media sites. Social media users can encounter problems from a legal standpoint, such as when a judge issues an order prohibiting the spouses from communicating the details of the case.

MIT Prof: Don’t Post About Divorce on Social Media

Dr. Sherry Turkle, an author and psychology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, advised against posting information about an impending divorce on social media. In a telephone interview, Dr. Turkle stated that social media sites are the places “where you show your best self.” She also told the interviewer that “people need boundaries and privacy” during the divorce process. She warned against posting about divorce on social media sites because they are “not the place(s) where you talk about your most vulnerable self.”

Source: Bend Bulletin

Get Answers For Your Divorce Case Questions

To find out how we can help with a divorce case, contact one of our attorneys today. Our intake team will take down the details of your case and quickly connect you to a divorce attorney. You can also fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form at the top of this page.