Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, and other social media platforms are engrained in our everyday lives. We use them to communicate with friends and family, keep up to date on current events, and voice our opinions. However, our activity may sometimes get us into trouble.

For those who face criminal charges, whatever you post on social media can be the difference between prison time and freedom. Almost everything you say and do online can be used against you in a court of law.

There are many instances when law enforcement uses social media to bolster their cases against defendants. Oversharing is an effective way to get caught and convicted as police can use your posts and misinterpret them to connect you with a crime.

How to Handle Your Social Media During Trial

If you are about to face trial, it is important to perform the following practices:

• Shut them down. Suspend your social media accounts to prevent past indiscretions from resurfacing, quotes from being taken out of context, and photos from being used against you in court.
• Lock them down. If you do not wish to suspend your accounts, locking them through your privacy settings can help keep your personal information out of reach. Most social mediums have default settings which offer various levels of transparency, so update those settings immediately.
• Be mindful of your words. From status updates to comments on someone else's post, watch what you say on social media. Whatever you decide to write and publish can be reviewed, especially if you are involved in a criminal case.
• Watch what your friends say. Make sure your friends do not post any incriminating photos of you or say anything which contradict your claims. Again, you can adjust your privacy settings to turn off your friends' ability to post on your page, or even tag you in a photograph.

If you were arrested and charged with a crime in Illinois, contact our Arlington Heights criminal defense lawyer at Wierenga | Chiapelli today.