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Social Media Day & Your Criminal Case

June 30, 2020
By The Wiseman Law Firm

How Social Media Can Hurt Your Case

While millions around the globe celebrate Social Media Day on June 30th to recognize social media’s impact on global communication, it’s important to recognize that there are two sides of the same coin. Essentially, this means that there are pros and cons to increased global communication. As you may already know, news spreads quickly. Very quickly. Why? Because millions can access social media at their convenience thanks to smartphones, and sharing information is fast and easy.

By simply having a social media account, even if you barely post content, you are jeopardizing your privacy because anyone can hack or access your information. If you use your account simply to stay up to date on your friends’ and families’ lives, you’re not entirely safe, either. One reason is that if you are under a criminal investigation, officials can view your social media activity and use it as evidence against you.

You can self-incriminate yourself by using social media.

For example, if you were charged with a hate crime and investigators discover through your social media accounts that you follow several alt-right figures and pages, that may help prove that you are guilty of such crime. Maybe you ‘liked’ and ‘shared’ questionable content and engaged in direct message conversations with alt-right individuals.

Let’s say you’re charged with a sex crime involving minors during the summertime. More people post photos in their swimsuits and wear less clothing than they would in colder seasons. Thus, your social media feed may be filled with people in their bathing suits at the lake or beach. If you engage with these posts in any way, or spend more time browsing young people’s social media accounts than adults’ accounts, the prosecution may deem your actions as strong evidence of your guilt.

Social Media Tips During Your Criminal Case

Frankly, the most important advice concerning social media use during your legal case is to avoid it at all costs. The reason for this is that anything you say or do can and will be used against you in court. Sound familiar? This element of your Miranda Warning prevails even after your arrest.

It’s critical to refrain from social media for the sake of your legal case and livelihood. Don’t take the risk of maintaining your social media presence during the course of your case, even if you don’t actively use it. Your account may get hacked and things can get ugly, leaving you to clean up the mess.

While Social Media Day is a great way to acknowledge the benefits of social media on global communication, it serves as a powerful reminder of the damages social media can do. If you are under investigation and haven’t been charged yet, you should still be responsible for your online activity. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Speak to our attorney who obtains 15+ years of experience, including serving as a former prosecutor, to learn how we can fight your criminal charges. Schedule your free consultation today! Se Habla Español.

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