Breakups can get ugly. Because there are so many emotions that surround the end of a relationship, some people might take matters to the extreme. In a divorce, you might be even more vulnerable to backlash from your former spouse.
In our modern era, it’s common for an ex to harass their previous partner online. Social media is a useful tool, but it can certainly turn into a weapon. When does personal disagreement become online harassment? It’s possible that you could face a number of actions that you believe are crossing the line.
First, your former spouse might make private matters public. In a marriage, spouses usually trust each other with their secrets and information. Once the marriage ends, one spouse can easily threaten to share these secrets with the world – if they haven’t already.
For example, you may have had an argument over texts or private message. Your ex could take a screenshot and post it on their social media page for friends and family to critique. According to a Pew Research Center survey, about half of respondents believe that sharing personal conversations is indeed harassment. Sharing a personal debate could be an open invitation for other people to send rude or threatening messages to you.
Another type of online harassment is direct threats or extreme pestering. Your former spouse might constantly send texts to bother you or win you over. They might also send abusive messages and post offensive or private photos. Receiving these messages can make an already stressful divorce much worse.
Unfortunately, online harassment after a breakup is more common than many people realize. In order to protect yourself from the possible harassment until your divorce cools down, you can ask your divorce lawyer about legal protections. It’s also a good idea to review your privacy settings on all social media accounts and report offensive messages to the platform itself.