During a divorce it is natural to want to surround yourself with friends and family. Social media is a very easy way to do this and many people benefit from their virtual support network. However, social media can also be damaging during your divorce and there are certain things that you should be aware of.
Privacy settings
If you want to take to social media to vent, check your privacy settings first. It is very easy to accidentally broadcast something to the world. This could then be seen by your ex and their friends and family without you knowing. Ensure you have your accounts set so only your connections can see what you write.
Typing in anger
Before you post on social media, question why you are doing it. If you are doing it to unload a lot of anger, pause and find another way to do this. You may end up posting something that you later regret.
What do you want your kids to see?
It is very easy to post on social media and very hard to delete previous posts. If you have children, consider whether or not you want them to see what you have written during your divorce.
Don’t post negatively about the other parent, if you wouldn’t say it to your children directly. There is a chance that as they grow they will look through your social media accounts and find something that you don’t want them to see.
Monitoring your ex
Social media allows us a whole new way to keep tabs on people. When it comes to keeping in touch with friends in faraway places, it is a positive thing. However, if you find yourself regularly checking your ex’s social media posts, this can be very negative.
Don’t get sucked into trying to monitor your ex through their social media accounts. No one ever displays a true account of their life and you won’t get any benefits from becoming a digital spy.
Comparing yourself
When you are feeling down, social media can cheer you up, but it can also make you feel worse as you see friends’ holiday photos, news of weddings and new babies and get the general impression that everyone is winning at life, except you.
If social media is making you feel worse about your situation, take a break from it completely. Try for a few days and you will find that you will start to feel better. You don’t have to delete your accounts, just reduce your usage.