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Do you and your co-parent agree on social media standards?

On Behalf of | Jan 18, 2025 | Family Law |

Social media is a part of daily life for many families. While it can be a useful tool for sharing memories and staying connected, it also introduces unique challenges for co-parents.

Ultimately, it is important for co-parents to agree on social media standards whenever possible in order to better ensure consistency, protect children’s privacy and avoid potential conflicts.

Why social media standards matter

If you co-parent with your ex and your children are no longer very young, you’re likely aware that disagreements over social media can lead to misunderstandings or disputes between co-parents — especially when it comes to how and when a child’s information or images are shared online. Thankfully, if you and your ex can establish clear guidelines, your family may find that it benefits from increased:

  • Consistency: Your child can receive the same messages and boundaries from both parents.
  • Privacy protection: Sensitive information, such as your child’s location or school, will be less likely to be inadvertently shared.
  • Conflict avoidance: Clear rules can minimize the risk of disagreements about what is appropriate to post.

When discussing social media standards with your co-parent, see if you can agree on rules you’re your child’s accounts. Decide what platforms they can use, how much time they can spend online and who will monitor their activity. You’ll also (ideally) want to set guidelines about how parents and extended family members should engage with your child online.

Finally, because social media trends and platforms evolve quickly, you’ll want to establish a plan to revisit and update your standards periodically to ensure they remain relevant. If you have any trouble setting initial guidelines or updating existing approaches, know that seeking personalized legal guidance is always an option.