Facebook: Learn to Play the Social Networking Game in a Divorce

While Facebook is a great way to connect with friends old and new, whether it is good for those in the process of “disconnecting” depends on how you play the social networking game.

How to be a social networking “loser”:

1. Think that anything you post is private—There is no privacy when it comes to the internet. You never really know who can see your Facebook posts. Can you trust each and every one of your 600 “friends” one hundred percent?

2. Post your whereabouts when you are not where you are supposed to be—Think about it, you’re in a hotly contested custody case and you switch nights with your soon-to-be ex because you have to work late and then you “check-in” at 11:00 p.m. at a bar (or, worse, an adult entertainment establishment). Enough said.

3. Brag about expensive purchases—Try explaining that to a judge when you’re asking to pay less alimony or child support.

4. Allow yourself to be tagged in photos that could be used to demonstrate that you aren’t where you’re supposed to be or with a new love interest.

5. Defriend your spouse and those close to them—As long as you are keeping your nose clean, why not use Facebook to keep tabs on your spouse’s activities? If they are not as careful as you are, you may hit pay dirt.

How to be a social networking “winner”:

1. Periodically double-check your privacy settings to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep everything about you as private as possible.

2. If you are tagged in any photos, be sure to untag yourself.

3. Less is more. Don’t update your status. Don’t post photographs. Don’t post your whereabouts.

4. Print! If you see ANYTHING that you think you could possibly use against your spouse, print it immediately. Otherwise, it may be gone next time you want to view it. Or, make it a habit of printing your spouse’s page periodically. Something that could seem meaningless now could have more meaning later.

When it comes to social networking, be smart, strategic and vigilant. Don't let your temptation to brag in front of your spouse about how great things are for you now that you're separated interfere with the outcome of your case.

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