If you have been arrested and are facing charges of a crime, this can be an incredibly stressful time in your life. Your future is riding on the outcome, and you do not want to do anything to sabotage yourself. Unfortunately, many do just that when they turn to social media to vent or post incriminating things.

Facebook currently has almost two billion active members; Twitter has around 328 million users, Instagram has nearly 700 million and Snapchat reports close to two million members. This is an excellent opportunity to interact with people you care about, but you should use social media wisely, particularly when you are facing criminal charges.

Even deleted content may come back to haunt you

Say you have been arrested for DUI, and you posted a picture of yourself at a party immediately before the police pulled you over. You can go in and physically remove the post from your profile, but things on the internet are still findable. Someone may screenshot your post or dig it up with the right tools. In one case, a drunk driver documented her spree on the social media platform Periscope, and law enforcement had direct proof of her guilt even after she deleted the footage.

Do not post about your case

Social media is the wrong way to update friends and family about your case. Anything you post can become evidence even if your profile is private. To avoid saying things you should not, you may want to take a break from social media until your case is over.

Never vent to others involved in your case, legal officials or law enforcement officers. Remember that the things you say in anger may be used against you in court. If you need someone to talk to about your case that can give you the right advice, speak to a criminal defense attorney immediately about keeping your record clear.