It is a well accepted fact that the growing popularity of social networks has resulted in various changes in our lifestyle. >However, the most recent revelation about how they have affected our lives is quite shocking.
Research from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers indicates that Facebook is now used to procure evidence for 1 in 5 divorce cases in the U.S.A. 81% of lawyers admit that evidence from social networks has been used more and more frequently over the past five years.
People often get in touch with old friends and flames over social networks and can end up rekindling old relationships, often exchanging inappropriate or sexual conversations with each other. They might tag themselves in photographs documenting happenings contrary to what they state in court and they might post status updates that contradict their testimonies.
Of all the social networks, Facebook was used most often as a source of evidence, by as many as 66% of divorce lawyers. MySpace was used by 15%, Twitter by 5% and 14% said they use other social media sources.
Marlene Eskind Moses, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers says, “As everyone continues to share more and more aspects of their lives on social networking sites, they leave themselves open to much greater examinations of both their public and private lives in these sensitive situations.”
It is ironic in some ways that the same networks that help to rekindle past relationships are being used as evidence in court proceedings on the breakdown of current relationships.
