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Can you keep the police from seeing your social media posts?

On Behalf of | Oct 21, 2024 | Criminal Defense |

If the police decide to investigate you, one place they might consider looking for evidence is your social media. Experience has taught them that it can often be productive.

Some people post blatant admissions of their guilt for all to see – especially if they are proud of what they did. Others are not so careless, but something they do post helps the police to charge them with a crime and possibly helps prosecutors secure a conviction.

Avoiding social media is best if under investigation

If you know the police are investigating you, staying off social media is a good choice. It reduces the chance you make an unfortunate error. Consider this particularly important if you tend to make spur-of-the-moment posts you sometimes regret when someone upsets you, or after you’ve had a few drinks.

You can’t hide what you have already posted

If you are reading this and realize you published a post that you shouldn’t have, you might consider making your post visibility settings more private or deleting certain posts. This may help you to a degree, but it is not foolproof. Firstly, someone may already have screenshotted your posts. Secondly, if the police want to search through your social media accounts, they can do so. They can either get a warrant or serve the social media company itself with a warrant to avoid the need for your permission altogether.

If you are worried about something you posted and believe it could lead to the police building a case against you, then seeking legal guidance is a good idea.