Elana Rowe https://wbglegal.com.au 5m 1,145 #socialmedia
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
In today’s hyper-connected world, the tendrils of social media reach far and wide, impacting nearly every aspect of our lives, including the legal sphere. This is particularly true in the realm of family law, where the digital footprints we leave behind can have significant repercussions. As family lawyers increasingly navigate the turbulent waters of social media evidence, its influence on cases is undeniable.
The Rise of Social Media in Family Law
Social media platforms have evolved from casual networking sites into potential evidence troves in legal disputes. In family law, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become a goldmine for evidence relevant to cases ranging from divorce proceedings to child custody battles.
Family lawyers, are now more vigilant than ever about their clients’ social media activities. Here’s how these digital platforms are shaping family law cases:
1. Evidentiary Goldmine or Minefield
Posts and Pictures: A picture is worth a thousand words, and in family law, it can speak volumes about someone’s lifestyle, spending habits, or personal associations.
Check-ins and Status Updates: These can contradict claims made in court, such as a parent’s location at a given time or their stated financial constraints.
Direct Messages: Private conversations are not so private if they are submitted as evidence, potentially revealing intentions or behaviours relevant to a case.
2. Custody and Conduct
In child custody disputes, a parent’s social media presence can be scrutinised to assess their suitability as a caregiver.
Parental Fitness: Posts involving partying, drug use, or other questionable behaviour can be used to challenge a parent’s fitness.
New Relationships: The presence of new partners introduced to children can become a point of contention in custody negotiations.
3. Financial Affidavits vs. Online Flaunts
Social media can paint a very different picture of someone’s financial status than what is declared in court.
Undisclosed Assets: Photos of luxury items or holidays may raise questions about the accuracy of financial affidavits.
Employment Status: Posts can inadvertently reveal employment or lucrative activities that have not been disclosed.
Navigating Social Media’s Legal Labyrinth
Family lawyers often advise clients on how to navigate the minefield of social media during legal proceedings.
Guiding Clients Wisely
Family lawyers understand the deep and lasting implications that social media activity can have on legal proceedings. Here’s how they guide clients:
Privacy Settings: The counsel begins with basic housekeeping – locking down privacy settings. Lawyers instruct clients to review their privacy settings and make their profiles visible to friends only, remove their profiles from public search results, and be vigilant about friend requests during legal disputes. It’s acknowledged, however, that this does not provide complete protection; friends can become foes, and shared content can find its way into the hands of the opposing party.
Pause on Posting: In the world of family law, silence often speaks louder than words, or in this case, posts. Lawyers advocate for a social media blackout, emphasizing that no post is worth jeopardizing a case over. They advise against sharing locations, new purchases, personal relationships, or anything that could be misconstrued or used against them in court.
The Legal Perspective
When it comes to presenting social media activity as evidence in family law cases, lawyers must tread carefully:
Admissibility of Evidence: Just because information can be publicly accessed on social media doesn’t mean it will be admissible in court. Family lawyers stress to their clients that relevance is key; the posts must directly pertain to the case. Additionally, they must circumvent privacy laws and navigate around hearsay objections, which is no simple task. Even content that seems directly relevant can be excluded if it violates these principles.
Authenticity Challenges: Demonstrating that social media evidence is genuine and unaltered is a fundamental challenge. Lawyers prepare by verifying metadata and, if necessary, engaging digital forensic experts who can authenticate the evidence. Screenshots alone are seldom sufficient; the origins of the content and the integrity of the data must withstand scrutiny.
Client Education
A critical component of a lawyer’s role is educating clients on the potential impacts of social media:
Awareness: Clients are often unaware of how innocuous online activity can be interpreted in a legal dispute. Lawyers educate them about how even benign posts can be taken out of context and how emotional rants can undermine credibility and the perceived ability to act in a child’s best interests.
Impact Briefing: Lawyers sit down with their clients to discuss potential outcomes from their online behaviour. This includes how social media posts can influence settlement negotiations, impact the views of a judge or magistrate regarding parenting capabilities, or even sway decisions about financial settlements. They emphasise that a single post can undo months of legal work and negotiation.
Social Media: A Friend and Foe in Family Law
In family law, social media evidence can both support and undermine a legal position. For instance, in cases of alleged domestic violence, social media can provide a support network for victims but can also be a channel for further abuse or harassment.
The Positive Spin
Evidence to Support Claims: Victims of domestic violence may use social media posts to corroborate their claims.
Building a Narrative: Positive social media activity can help create a narrative about a person’s character or parenting ability.
The Negative Spiral
Harassment and Bullying: Social media can be used as a platform for negative behaviours that impact family law matters.
Misinterpretation: Innocuous posts can be taken out of context, potentially damaging an individual’s case.
The Way Forward with Social Media in Family Law
As the use of social media continues to grow, so too does its significance in family law. Looking ahead, it’s clear that the relationship between social media and the legal system will only become more intertwined.
1. Developing Best Practices
Client Advisories: Lawyers are formulating comprehensive guidelines for clients regarding social media use.
Education Initiatives: Legal professionals must stay informed about the evolving nature of social media to provide relevant advice.
2. Anticipating Challenges
Technology Advancements: The constant evolution of social media platforms means that family lawyers must anticipate new forms of evidence and challenges.
Privacy Law Intersection: The balance between useful evidence and privacy rights will be a key legal battleground.
3. Embracing Technology
Digital Forensics: As the complexity of social media evidence grows, the role of digital forensics in family law cases will expand.
Training and Resources: Investment in training for legal professionals on the technical aspects of social media will become increasingly important.
Conclusion
The impact of social media on family law is profound and multifaceted, affecting the strategies of family lawyers and the outcomes of cases.
In this environment, the onus falls on both family lawyers and their clients to navigate social media with caution and foresight. As the legal profession continues to evolve with these technological changes, one thing remains clear: the keystrokes and clicks of today can become the evidence of tomorrow.
(
