Would you engage in a social media prenuptial agreement?
Let’s consider the latest statistics for marriages that sadly end in divorce:
- 41% of first time around.
- 60% for that second chance at love.
- 73% when you believe, third time’s a charm — and unfortunately, it’s not.
With these numbers we are seeing more and more social media prenups arising. Why? Does anyone want to wake-up and be a victim of embarrassing posts, e-venge, non-consensual porn etc? Break-ups (and you don’t have to be married to experience it) can be ugly. The internet can magnify it a million times worse.
More couples are now legally spelling out the online do’s and don’ts in social media prenuptial agreements.
According to Channel 10 News Tampa lawyer, Robin Bonivich, concurs, that she has seen a rise in social media prenup agreements and believes it drives a wedge in relationships. She continues, “81% of my peers, other family law attorneys, have seen this become an issue either prior to the divorce or during the divorce proceedings.”
As someone that has been both a victim and survivor of online defamation (not through a break-up) thankfully, but the pain of deadly keystrokes can cut very similarly, to have the protection of a social media prenup, might not be a bad idea in today’s cyber-savvy world where the keypad could be considered a [legal] lethal weapon.
Robin Bonivich, like the family lawyer we interviewed in Shame Nation, Kristen Zurek, give very similar advice to people getting married.
Do you do post about any of these online: big purchases like a car, vacations, drinking? Bonivich warns clients that social media can be a treasure trove of ammunition during a divorce.
Isn’t it time everyone learn to use their keyboard with respect and responsibility and especially consider what they share or overshare online?