With so many different social media platforms making it easy to post your every thought, it is tempting to constantly share what you are doing each day. Many use Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and others to connect with old friends and share things that are important to them. Unfortunately, a lesson that many fail to learn is that once it is posted on the internet, it is there forever.
What you may not know is that the things you post on social media can even get you arrested. This is highlighted in a case in Hawaii, where a man posted a live video of him drinking a beer while driving, and police showed up at his door to arrest him not too long later. While he claims that the bottle was empty, he is still facing charges of consuming alcohol while operating a vehicle. This should be a lesson to everyone with a social media account. The things you post online may come back to haunt you.
Live videos intended for notoriety may end in jail sentences
The live video and story options of many social media platforms have spelled trouble for many who are looking for notoriety or fame. Some post to social media in the hopes that their posts will go viral and they will have instant popularity and validation. Others have some need to share their crimes with the world.
Over the last few years, Facebook live videos have been used to highlight a police officer shooting a black man in a traffic stop, a mentally disabled man being abused by several teenagers and even burglaries and beatings. Those involved record the video, upload it to social media and rarely think of the legal consequences of their actions.
How can social media postings affect your case?
The term “overshare” is constantly used to describe those who share too much of their personal lives on social media, and this includes crimes they have or are currently committing. If you are drinking or involved in any type of criminal activity, the best thing to do is stay away from your social media accounts. You may not only say things publicly that you normally wouldn’t, but you could even be tagged in pictures or events that hurt your case by friends without your knowledge.
For example, if you are facing a DUI case, the things you post online may be used by prosecutors as evidence against you. To protect your rights and know the best way to keep your record safe from a criminal conviction, we encourage you to consult an attorney immediately after you are charged with a crime, and stay away from social media until then.