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When coparents cannot agree on children’s social media use

On Behalf of | Apr 11, 2022 | Child Custody

There were plenty of things you disagreed about while married. Now that you are divorced, expect a few more issues to surface. One of them includes the usage of social media by your children.

The world cannot escape the presence of social media, filled with plenty of benefits as well as plenty of ills. How much screen time should parents allow a child for social media purposes?

Setting an example

In different households, there usually are different rules. In one home, for example, a child may have an overabundance of screen time, including social media presence. However, it is important to come to a compromise agreement regarding your children’s use of social media.

Parents need to rely on a common-sense approach when it comes to how much time their children spend on social media. Remember, that you set the example in many areas of your child’s life. And that includes social media matters.

A parent who constantly relies on social media and is often seen glued to the smartphone will have a difficult time keeping their children away from doing the same things.

Are children old enough?

Just because social media companies have implemented age requirements for users of their services does not mean that you should agree with them. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok set 13 as the minimum age for their users, while YouTube declares that children ages 13 to 17 may open an account as long as they have parental permission.

In some cases, depending on the maturity of your child, those ages may not be old enough.

If you are at loggerheads with the child’s other parent on allowing your child to use social media, you likely need insight from a third party. Turning to a child psychologist or therapist for advice may be helpful. However, if civility is not present in the relationship, you may have to resort to mediation or working with a parenting coordinator.

Make sure to have an agreement in place

Social media allows your children to communicate with their pals and learn about things, but also may have a negative influence. If you allow your child to use social media, consider designating a computer in the family room for him or her. Granted, your child will not have the desired privacy, but it represents a trade-off. Your child has access to social media under your watchful eye. But make sure to have an agreement in place with the child’s other parent.

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