Can a Florida Parenting Plan Include Rules About Children’s Social Media and Screen Time?
Technology is now an integral part of everyday life. This is especially true for children who are growing up with technology we could only dream about when we were kids. Now, parents have to concern themselves with things like screen time and social media and whether or not they’re safe. If there is a divorce or separation in your family, conflicts can also arise over technology usage. Each parent may have their own idea about how to deal with smartphones and tablets. The good news is that Florida parenting plans can cover how much screen time your child is allowed.
Customizing parenting plans
Florida law requires both parents to come up with a parenting plan that details how they intend to co-parent their children. Apart from being required to incorporate provisions related to sharing time and parental decision-making power, parents have the option to add other terms and conditions according to their personal preferences.
With technology playing an increasingly significant role in our lives today, it is common for parents to add clauses regarding cell phone and computer usage as well as social media.
Common technology-related provisions
Parenting plans can cover such issues as:
- The age at which one is allowed to get a smartphone or a social media account.
- Daily time restrictions for watching a TV set or playing computer games.
- Use of any electronic devices during studying, eating or going to bed.
- Monitoring of any social media accounts by parents.
- Use of privacy settings.
- Posting on the Internet information about open family court cases.
Additionally, parents may agree not to use their children to communicate through social media.
Why consistency matters
When expectations are similar in both homes, children will usually thrive. When a child is allowed to use devices without restrictions by one parent but has many restrictions by the other, there may be confusion.
Including technology in parenting plans encourages both parents to adopt similar standards. This can promote good practices, academic success, and fewer disputes between parents.
It should be noted that each rule need not be the same. Differences in daily family routine can be taken into account when setting similar expectations.
Resolving disagreements
Revolutionary technologies are coming out every day. It’s therefore difficult for parents to predict all the technological developments that will take place in the future.
In cases where the parents cannot come to an agreement, it may require the modification of the parenting plan or mediation with the help of a trained specialist before going to court. Courts in Florida generally prefer parents to settle their disagreements outside of court.
An Experienced St. Petersburg Family Lawyer Can Help
The Law Office of Kevin F. Coleman represents the interests of St. Petersburg parents in custody disputes. Call our St. Petersburg family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin drafting your arguments right away.
