You’ve always been a fan of social media, and your wife uses it a lot, too. You’re over 50, so it’s perhaps not as usual to see people using social media, but you’ve both enjoyed being able to reach out to your family and to post images this way. Social media keeps you connected with friends and family, and now, it has the potential to give you lots of information about your spouse for use during your divorce.

Social media has the potential to affect your divorce in many ways. You may discover chats that lead you to recognize adultery has taken place, or you might use photos to locate missing assets. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Social media draws attention to your divorce

When you’re on social media platforms, changing anything from a status update to your relationship status draws attention to your divorce. Avoid hurting your spouse’s feelings by talking to one another before you make the decision to change anything online. You or your spouse may not want to air your divorce to the world yet, and that’s not bad. Additionally, social media exposure has the potential to make friends take sides, and no one really wants to add to the tension of a divorce when it’s not necessary.

2. You could share too much

Sharing information about your divorce might seem like fun, especially if you’re talking to friends or venting, but there’s a downside. Anything you post publicly can be seen by others, and that means anyone from friends of friends to potential employers see what you’ve written. Few people really want to know exactly why you’re seeking a divorce. Keep that between yourself and your close friends, family and spouse.

3. Using social media leaves you open to spying

Social media opens you up to your spouse checking on the things you do and vice versa. It’s easy to see your spouse spending money on a new car or taking photos on vacation. Those photos might also be helpful, though, depending on your case. For example, if you can’t find an expensive piece of jewelry you owned and track down your ex posting it for sale in a community Facebook group, you have ammunition and evidence to take back to your attorney. Social media leaves you open to the same scrutiny, so it’s best to keep everything offline and to yourself to avoid trouble.

Your attorney can help you understand the risks of using social media during your divorce, so you make an informed decision about using it. Be careful, and you can get through your divorce without a social media faux paus.