If you must use social media during divorce, follow these steps

At the beginning of December, we wrote a post about social media and divorce. Using sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram during a divorce is a tricky proposition. Even if you mean well in your posts and status updates, your words could be used out of context to support some legal action by your soon-to-be-former spouse. And if you have a bad moment and post something inflammatory while you are very upset, then it could really hurt you.

The point is, social media is not to be trifled with when you are going through a divorce. But, we also recognize that social media is now part of life. For many, it simply isn’t an option to not use it. So how can you effectively use social media — or find something similar that poses less of a risk — during a divorce?

• Avoid any references to your ex or your divorce. That should be a given, but it needs to be said anyway. Stay away from these two topics if you must use social media during a divorce.

• If you have children and you are going through a divorce, definitely don’t bring them up in any social media post. Again, you may mean well, but your comments could still be used against you.

• Talk with friends in person, or start a journal to document your feelings about your divorce. This way, you can still vent about this critical moment in your life, but it isn’t out there for everyone to see on a social media site.

Source: Huffington Post, “6 Tips To Navigate Social Media In Divorce,” Cherie Morris, Jan. 15, 2016