The Wright Firm's Weblog

Social Media “Unfriend”-ly to Kids’ Grades!

Most of us are already well aware of the highly distracting nature of Facebook, Twitter and other social media, but did you know that all this tech distraction could actually be causing your children to earn lower grades?  A recent study of middle school, high school, and college students has found that those students who checked Facebook at least once during a fifteen minute study period got lower grades.  Other studies have shown that student who are active social media users were less physically healthy, more prone to depression and had narcissistic tendencies as well as other psychological disorders. (It should be noted that the study could not confirm whether Facebook and similar sites merely attracted narcissistic individuals or actually created the narcissism.)

The findings were announced at American Psychological Association annual convention by Professor Larry Rosen.  Rosen remarked about a research assessment in which student were observed studying for 15minutes, “What we found was mind-boggling. About every 3 minutes, they are off-task.  You’d think…knowing that someone is observing you, that [the students] would be more on task.”

Parents, what do you think?  Have you noticed any depletion in your child’s attention span or lower grades when your child is permitted to use Facebook?

Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are becoming more and more important in Family Law cases.  Family attorneys can use these sites as a gold mine of information both about the parents’ activity as well as a child’s.

If you need assistance with a Family Law case, give The Wright Firm a call at (972) 353-4600 or check us out on the web at www.thewrightlawyers.com!

See the full article here:  http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/08/kids-who-hang-out-on-facebook-do-worse-in-school/

 

A Sex Scandal Without the Sex!

Much ado has been made recently about U. S. Rep. Anthony Weiner sending sexually explicit messages and images via the internet to various women.  While there is a long-running tradition of sex scandals among American politicians, the quirk in Rep. Weiner’s story is that – as far as anyone is acknowledging – there has been no actual sex involved.  This is the “sex scandal” for the Age of Facebook and Twitter.

Weiner is not alone.  A May 2010 study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 15% of adults reported that they had received a sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude photo or video on their cell phones.  6% admitted to having sent such messages.  Of adults in the 18-to-29 age bracket, 31% stated that they had received and 13% that they had sent sexually explicit messages.

But, is an internet- or cell phone-based “affair” really cheating?  Under Texas law, it does NOT meet the definition of adultery.  To qualify as “adultery” there must be voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not the spouse of that person.  That doesn’t necessarily mean, however that your spouse won’t see a cyber affair as cheating.  The Associate Press reports in the wake of the Weiner debacle, that many Americans have stated via online postings and phone interviews that the emotional betrayal is just as bad as a physical betrayal.  As a divorce attorney, I can personally attest to the increasing role Facebook and other social media are playing in my clients’ cases.

The Bottom Line:  If you wouldn’t tweet it, post it or text it with your spouse looking over your shoulder, there’s a good chance your spouse will think it’s cheating.

For information on Texas law contact The Wright Firm, L.L.P. at 972-353-4600 or visit us on the web at www.thewrightlawyers.com 

See Yahoo News article here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110607/ap_on_re_us/us_weiner_is_sexting_cheating

See MSNBC article here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43365868/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

 

Don't Badmouth Your Ex on YouTube!

The Dalllas Morning News this morning reported that a judge in Collin County in North Texas has instructed the ex-wife of radio host and comedian Steve Harvey to stop badmouting him in YouTube videos or in any other media.Dallas Morning News Article.  The judge issued an injuction Monday to prevent Mary Lee Harvey "from releasing any disparaging, false, or malicious information" about Steve Harvey.  There is a hearing set for March 10 for a contempt of court allegation against Mary Lee Harvey according to the article.

Divorce and Post-divorce clients need to be careful about the statements that they make in the social media.  Even though the couple's divorce file is sealed, the judge authorized Mr. Harvey to publish the order for the limited purpose of "refuting the allegations" of his former spouse.Steve Harvey Responds   It is unknown in this case, but many divorce decrees have injunctions in them that prohibit ex-spouses from making negative comments about each other and especially comments that might be made in front of a child.  While we all enjoy freedom of speech, there are limits that a judge can place on that speech for the best interest  of a child. The morale of this story is don't try to get back at your ex using social media.  You may find yourself back in court. 

The Wright Firm, L.L.P. is a full service law firm with offices in Dallas, Denton, and Lewisville, Texas.  We may be reached at 972-353-4600 or by the web at www.thewrightlawyers.com.  Reading this blog post does not create an attorney-client relationship.  Be sure to consult with an attorney as the facts of each case are different