While under investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families, you may feel as though your entire life is under a microscope.
During the investigation, DCF will look for signs of abuse or neglect. If you have an active social media presence, it is important to be cautious about what you publish online.
Think before publishing social media posts
No matter what the “privacy” settings on your account say, nothing you post online is ever truly private. Avoid posting anything that you would not want a DCF agent or judge to see.
This includes posts that may have an innocent explanation but appear problematic out of context. For example, a photo of you drinking alcohol at a party might come back to haunt you, even if your children were completely safe at home with a babysitter at the time.
Monitor your children’s social media use
In addition to using social media carefully, you should monitor your children’s online activities as well. Think twice before allowing your children to have social media accounts. Not only can social media expose your children to online bullies and predators, but it also gives your children a platform to say whatever comes to mind, even if it is untrue or lacking context, without understanding the consequences.
Understand that your or your child’s social media friends or followers may report content they find worrisome to CPS. If a friend or follower is a mandatory reporter, he or she may have no choice but to err on the side of caution to avoid facing professional and legal consequences.
If you are under DCF investigation, taking a social media break and removing your children’s access to social media can give you some peace of mind and may help your case.
