Recap from the Masters Conference New York | Right Discovery Staff Writer
At The Masters Conference NYC, one breakout session stood out for spotlighting a fast-moving frontier of digital evidence: social media. In “Unlocking Social Media Data: Next-Level Discovery & Investigations Support,” panelists Josh Janow and Paige Hansen of SMI Aware pulled back the curtain on the rapidly evolving world of social media intelligence (SOCMINT) and how legal teams can level up their investigative strategies by looking beyond the inbox—and into the feed.
"Social media is where people live online. It’s their relationships, their movements, their mindset—it’s behavioral evidence," said Janow, kicking off the session. The panel made clear that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter). The big "a ha!" moment - If you're not looking at social media data, you're missing the full picture. and even Venmo or Strava activity are no longer fringe sources—they’re central to modern discovery and investigation strategies. Take for instance, Instagram stories that disappear in 24 hours, the digital breadcrumbs people leave online are increasingly critical in litigation and investigations. And those posts? They may hold more weight than a dozen emails when it comes to context, behavior, and intent.
But tapping into this world takes more than a Google search. Janow and Hansen emphasized that successful social media discovery requires a methodical approach—one that’s ethical, defensible, and repeatable. Think structured workflows, proper documentation, and tools designed to do more than take a screenshot. Whether it's identifying alias accounts or preserving hard-to-find content, the goal is the same: build a trail of evidence that stands up in court.
One of the standout takeaways from the session was the clear distinction between what’s accessible and what’s admissible. Public posts? Fair game to preserve. Private or restricted accounts? Those get flagged for legal follow-up. The focus isn’t on surveillance—it’s on surfacing facts, responsibly and strategically.
This discussion also challenged us to expand our thinking of where relevant data lives, on the usual suspects of Facebook, X and Instagram all still matter—but platforms like Venmo, Strava, and even niche online communities are fast becoming hotbeds of key evidence. These aren’t just social tools; they’re behavioral timelines, revealing everything from movement and relationships to intent and motive.
“You can’t afford to overlook the digital footprints people leave behind in public and semi-public spaces.”
The takeaway was loud and clear: don’t wait for social media evidence to surprise you—plan for it. Build it into early case assessments. Incorporate it into your discovery playbook. Because in the age of digital oversharing, the next breakthrough in your case might be hiding in plain sight—on someone’s public profile.
Right Discovery is proud sponsor of The Masters Conference & Masters Conference Legal Events.
We believe the future of legal is driven by connection, innovation, and knowledge sharing—and that’s exactly what this series delivers. Want to know where we’re headed next? Check out our events page and come say hi. There’s still time to register for upcoming stops in Philly, Seattle, and Atlanta! Whether you're deep in discovery or just discovering your next move, The Masters Conference has a seat for you—and we’ll save you a coffee.
Topics: social media, investigations, eDiscovery, Masters Conference, Facebook, Instagram, X, Venmo, Strava, public data, private accounts, alias identification, preservation, defensibility, chain of custody, early case assessment, digital footprints, SOCMINT, legal tech, investigative workflows, modern discovery tools, social media evidence, behavioral data, compliance, legal investigations, ethical collection