The Social Media Activities of Your Teens Can Help or Hinder Your Divorce Settlement

Some time ago, I talked about the legal and emotional effects social media can have on couples in any phase of the divorce process. As a Texas divorce and child custody attorney, I now see addressing social media issues as a requirement, whether to find evidence to help my clients’ cases or to protect them from cyberspace posts that can harm them. Unfortunately, it looks as if I must now address teen social media activities as part of my comprehensive services.

In October 2013, Facebook loosened the restrictions formerly placed on teen users. They now have the option of changing their security settings so the general public can easily view their posts. To address potential security issues, every parent should review the information Facebook provides on how to Help Your Teens Play It Safe. However, if you are experiencing marital difficulties or actively going through a divorce, your teens may very well vent online. You need to take additional steps to protect the entire family:

• Talk to your teens specifically about how their activities can affect the futures of everyone in the family. Make sure they feel comfortable enough to tell you if their social media pages or those of their friends may create issues for you or your spouse during divorce.
• Turn off the new security options that broaden your teens’ audience, and explain why you need to take this action.
• Monitor the activities of your teens and their friends from the viewpoint of both Texas divorce attorneys. Take note of any posts that can help or harm your case.

Keep in mind that you cannot control the actions of your teens’ network of online friends. It is vital that you discuss issues of social media with your Texas divorce lawyer to address existing concerns and help prevent additional issues before they occur in the future.