THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES IN CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS

Abstract

The digital transformation of contemporary society has brought numerous changes in the ways people communicate, build relationships, and participate in everyday social life. One of the most influential phenomena in this process is social media, which has become an integral part of daily life for nearly all generations, including parents, guardians, and children. Although social media offers many advantages in maintaining connections and expressing opinions, its impact on family relationships has increasingly become a cause for concern from psychological, sociological, and legal perspectives. In the context of family law, particularly in proceedings concerning child custody and the exercise of parental rights, the digital footprints of parental behavior on social networks are increasingly taken into account when assessing parental capacities and evaluating overall family dynamics. The content parents post, the way they communicate through social media, the presence of digital conflict, and practices such as "sharenting" can have concrete legal consequences in custody proceedings. Moreover, the misuse of social media for mutual discreditation between former partners, the dissemination of private information about children, and even the manifestation of digital violence within the family raise critical issues regarding the legal protection of children in the virtual environment, as well as the legal liability of parents. A particular challenge lies in balancing the parents' right to freedom of expression with the child’s right to privacy, dignity, and safety.This paper aims to analyze all these phenomena through the lens of contemporary family law, providing insight into existing legal frameworks and the challenges of evaluating parents' digital behavior. Special attention will be given to the best interests of the child as the fundamental criterion in family proceedings, with the aim of highlighting the need for further normative clarification and professional education of all participants in these procedures.