If you’re a fan of true crime, you’ve likely heard of or already watched Unknown Number: The High School Catfish on Netflix. While the ending was shocking to say the least, the issues are unfortunately very common for teens. Online bullying and harassment have increased as children’s access to technology has. And, teens today are exposed to so much new technology that parents may not always understand.
Whether you’re going through a divorce, drafting a parenting plan, or deciding how to navigate these issues with your coparent, it’s important to be on the same page. Including provisions about technology in a marital settlement agreement or parenting plan can be a great way to ensure you and your co-parent are able to discuss these issues in a collaborative manner.
Questions to consider:
When will your children receive access to technology, including cellphones and tablets?
Today, technology targets children of every age. There are tablets for toddlers to watch shows on, smartwatches that allow children to make calls, and of course, cell phones! Establishing boundaries and parameters around when to introduce technology to your children can feel overwhelming since it seems like they’re already exposed to it everywhere they go.
Deciding simple things, such as when they’re allowed to have their first phone, when they’re allowed to use it in the home, and who they’re allowed to contact with it, are great ways to start the conversation.
What apps and social media will they be allowed to have and when?
Just as it can feel overwhelming to limit children’s exposure to technology, it can feel even more so when thinking about limiting the content they consume online. From YouTube to social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat, there are endless opportunities for your children to see content you don’t want them to.
Generally, social media sites allow children as young as 13 to create their own accounts. However, as parents, you can discuss which apps and sites you feel comfortable with your children having access to at what age.
What privacy settings are non-negotiable?
It’s equally Important to discuss what privacy settings your children should have on their accounts. Did you know Instagram’s most recent update automatically sets a user’s location to share in real time? Snapchat has a similar feature where users can choose to share their live location with their friends and even people outside their friend network. Additionally, Instagram lets users view sensitive content with just one click – there’s no age verification or additional steps.
You and your co-parent can incorporate provisions into your MSA or parenting plan discussing what parental restrictions and safety features should be placed on your children’s devices and for how long. This protects them from online stranger danger and being exposed to inappropriate material.
Whose plan will they be under, and who will pay what portion of the costs?
Finances are difficult for any family to manage, and that becomes even more true when a family is managing finances across two households. Marital settlement agreements and parenting plans are excellent tools to help outline finances and decide how each parent will contribute to certain expenses, including cellphones and cellphone plans.
Having these conversations, incorporating language into your MSA or parenting plan, and setting ground rules early on allows you and your co-parent to work together while establishing clear and consistent guidelines that work for you and your children!
If you need help starting the conversation or developing a parenting plan with your co-parent, we can help. Click here to start.