The internet is forever, and even private accounts are never truly private. If you call out of work and tell your boss you are sick, would you post videos of you going to the beach that same day? Likely not, you’d probably be fired. Should you post illegal activity on Instagram? No, you absolutely should not.
This seems like common sense, but many people do post crazy things on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. If you are selling drugs on social media, the police might eventually take notice. If someone posts a threat, that person will most likely eventually be arrested or at least investigated. There are law enforcement officers who are regularly tasked with monitoring social media for threats, drug sales, and evidence of other illegal activity. Even if your account is private, investigators can subpoena tech companies to see posts and videos. A deleted post remains in an archive somewhere on a server that can still be accessed.
Social media posts tend to come up often in domestic violence cases. Prosecutors might use posts to demonstrate a person is aggressive and that an alleged victim is fearful; defense attorneys might use social media to show an alleged victim is actually the aggressor.
If you have been charged with a crime in Wake County or believe you are under investigation, you should not delete your posts or deactivate your social media accounts without first speaking to an attorney. The experienced criminal defense and restraining order attorneys at Granados Law Group, PLLC can advise you on how to proceed with your pending charge. Call us at (919) 650-2851 for a free consultation.
