Fixing a leaky faucet? DIY might be a smart, cost-effective choice. But when it comes to social media discovery and analysis, the stakes are much higher. Legal teams who take a DIY approach risk missing key evidence, mishandling data, or even compromising defensibility in court.
In contrast, outsourcing social media investigations to a trusted expert ensures evidence is collected thoroughly, ethically, and defensibly—especially as platform rules, user behaviors, and legal standards continue to evolve.
The Pitfalls of DIY Social Media Discovery
It’s easy to assume that anyone with a web browser can search social media. But collecting usable legal evidence is more than scrolling and screenshots.
Here’s where DIY falls short:
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Outdated Methods: Relying on old techniques or free tools often results in missed platforms and overlooked evidence.
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Incomplete Coverage: New platforms gain traction while older ones still hold valuable data. A DIYer may not know how—or where—to look.
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Legal Risk: Attorneys or staff who conduct searches themselves may inadvertently involve themselves in the chain of custody, complicating admissibility.
In short: just because data is public doesn’t mean it’s being collected properly—or legally.
Why Collection Methods Matter
Today’s users overshare more than ever: jobs, relationships, travel, opinions—you name it. That makes social media a goldmine for discovery. But it also makes the collection process complex, especially if DIY social media discovery is your solution.
To be court-admissible, evidence must be:
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Collected consistently
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Documented clearly
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Preserved with source code for defensibility
Only trained professionals using specialized tools—like digital forensics software that captures timestamps, IP addresses, and chain of custody—can reliably meet these standards.
Best Practices Require the Right Tools and Talent
The rules around social media evidence are constantly evolving. What was acceptable last year may no longer hold up in court. DIY efforts may not keep up with these shifts.
That’s why working with a third-party partner like SMI Aware isn’t just helpful—it’s strategic.
Our proprietary application manages and documents every step of the search and collection process. Our in-house analysts curate only the most relevant content, and every report we deliver adheres to strict quality and defensibility standards—whether you need one or 1,000.
The Smarter Investment
Legal discovery is too important to leave to chance—or shortcuts. Assigning social media discovery to SMI Aware:
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Frees up internal resources
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Reduces the risk of error or bias
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Ensures every piece of evidence meets admissibility standards
DIY is great for home repairs—not for legal discovery.
Let’s talk about how we can support your next social media discovery project.
