Once a divorce is finalized, couples focus on moving forward while doing their part to adhere to the final decree. Making timely support payments, following visitation schedules, and otherwise abiding by court orders should always be a primary concern. However, it is important to update your social media accounts after a divorce. Though social media updates may seem like minor things to worry about, now that the majority of most people use at least one major social media platform, what you write or post online after a divorce has the potential to cause trouble.
Limiting Access
Prior to getting divorced, you may have allowed anyone who was interested in you to freely view all items you posted on your social media account. Once you have gone through a divorce, especially one that was contentious, limiting who is able to access your online activity is always a good idea. Allowing your former spouse’s friends, coworkers, and future significant others access to information about your personal life could lead to problems. A person gossiping about your behavior, making assumptions about an innocuous statement you post online, etc. create friction between you and your spouse.
Changing Passwords
Over the course of a marriage, it is not unusual for partners to share account passwords. During the divorce process, most couples hurry to change bank account, insurance account, and other finance--related passwords while overlooking social media account access. Even if you never voluntarily provided your former spouse with your account information, his or her familiarity with your frequently used password combinations or access to a computer on which you saved passwords may have allowed your ex to discover your password on his or her own. Changing your social media passwords after a divorce is a good way to prevent your former spouse from accessing your account to read private messages, see your online activity, and gain access to information you would prefer to keep private.
Remove Mutual Acquaintances
It is not unusual for coworkers or friends of one spouse to connect with the other spouse via social media. Often these friendship requests or new followers are completely overlooked or forgotten through lack of interaction. Once they are forgotten, even if you limit account access to only your friends and delete, block, or otherwise remove their family members or friends, these people who you have overlooked can continue to see your activity. Though most people may not have an active interest in your divorce or have a close friendship with your former spouse, it is possible for that these mutual acquaintances will later purposefully or unthinkingly give your ex-spouse details of your life that you do not want him or her to know. Simply removing people from your circle who know your ex and who are not close to you can prevent future trouble before it starts.
Contact an Attorney
If you have taken steps to restrict your ex-spouse from following you on social media, but he or she is continuing to use the internet to spy on you, talk to a qualified family law attorney. The attorneys at Vayman & Teitelbaum are aware of the lengths some adults go to continue keeping an eye on a former spouse once the divorce is finalized. We can help you find a way to address and stop behavior that is making you uncomfortable and interfering with your ability to move on after your divorce. Contact one of our Atlanta area offices today and schedule an appointment to discuss your unique situation.
