With so many people using social networks like Twitter and Facebook, it can become quite common to talk to family members and friends on those networks in the same way you might talk to them in your own living room. However, if you're going through a divorce or separation, a little more caution might be needed. It's important to know when the proper time to share with family and friends is, and how it should be done.
Posting Status Updates - Even if your profiles aren't public, you should watch your status updates. It can be tempting to vent on your social networks and say bad things about your wife or soon-to-be ex wife. However, there's always a chance that the post could get back to your wife. You may not care about this, but if she would take a screenshot of the status and take it to court with her, it could really backfire on your child custody case. It could make you look juvenile, and it could potentially sway the judge in her favor. So one of the things you really have to think about when you're posting status updates is what the judge would think if he could see them. This is especially important if you're going to court for custody as well.
Family - Another thing you'll want to think about is family. A divorce or child custody situation is without a doubt an awkward situation for families, especially those people who love both you and your wife. By saying bad things about your wife, you could be hurting other people that you don't have a problem with. If you're friends with your older children, this could be devastating to them. They may act like it doesn't bother them, or that they're 'on your side,' but the truth is that it does hurt them and it could make them resent you later in life. For family's sake, it's important to watch those updates and your words on the internet.
If you want to vent or need to tell family members something, you should speak with them in person, and be discreet about things. While it may feel better to say whatever pops into your head at the moment, in the long run it's a better idea to be tactful and careful of what you say on social networks. Watch your words so you don't have to deal with them coming back to bite you in the backside later.
