When it comes to social media and law, a lot of people still don’t understand how both are correlated. Too many still seem to think that whatever happens on social media stays there or that it’s not real life. But what you do on social media could have very real and serious implications for your case. This is why it’s important that you know what these are so you don’t end up making crucial mistakes. Let’s take a look at how social media can affect your court case.
Social Media Influence on Personal Injury Cases
One of the cases where misusing social media can hurt the most is when it comes to personal injury claims. That’s because the damages you ask for have to be consistent with your actual situation. For instance, if you’re suing for mental anguish and you’re seen smiling and dancing, then that could be used against you in court. The same goes if you claim for an injury but seem to be doing activities that are incongruent with it, like doing yard work if you’re claiming for back injuries, for instance.
Social Media in Divorce Cases
Divorce cases are another type of case when social media can change everything. Social media use during a divorce could be used to show that a parent is unfit to care for a child and it may affect how much they are able to see them. You might be engaging in reckless behavior, for instance, or even partying in good fun with a few of your friends.
This could all be used against you to show how fit you are as a parent. Or one side may claim that they can’t afford spousal support but are shown driving a fancy car in one of their social media posts. These are all things that you need to pay special attention to, and it will and should be used as evidence for what you’re claiming.
In addition to showing that you’re a good parent, you also have to show that you can have a cordial relationship with the other parent. If one party is silent, but the other one is on social media spewing some vitriol about the proceedings and their relationship, then you can’t expect this to sit well with the judge.
Social Media in Criminal Cases
Social media is also being increasingly used to collect evidence in criminal cases. If you’re involved in a criminal case of any sort, it’s advised that you stay off social media completely. Social media will be used to judge your character. It can also be used to disprove or prove a version of a story.
The bottom line is that social media is not private or off-limits, and prosecutors will use anything they can find online about you to build a case. Social media could be used to prove intent to commit a crime or lack thereof, which can have a big impact on sentencing. As you can see, social media can affect legal cases in more ways than one. So, we strongly suggest you either limit or completely stop social media usage during any proceedings.