Parental Disputes Over a Child’s Social Media Use

 Posted on November 19, 2024 in Child Custody

As technology advances and becomes more and more involved in daily life, it can be challenging for unmarried parents who disagree about how their child should use social media. One parent might have serious concerns about how social media could endanger their child’s well-being, and the other might be concerned that limiting the child’s freedom could harm the child as well. 

When two parents feel passionately about different sides of an argument, it can be a recipe for disaster. If it feels like you and your ex are in an endless battle about your child’s social media use, speak with a skilled Lombard, IL joint custody attorney about ways to resolve it.

Joint Legal Custody and Parenting Plans

The majority of divorced parents in Illinois have some sort of joint legal custody arrangement. That means both parents get a say and need to agree on important decisions that can affect their child. Social media is one of the areas parents need to agree about. If one parent wants to give the child the freedom to make his or her own informed decision and the other wants to restrict social media use, this is a problem that needs to be resolved.

Ideally, the parents have a parenting plan that explains how they are supposed to make decisions about things like the child’s health, welfare, education, and other aspects. If social media use is not included in the parenting plan, the parents might need to negotiate an agreement about how they will handle it. 

Dispute Resolution through Mediation

Another option for resolving this argument is through mediation. The court sometimes requires parents to try this first before having a hearing. A mediator might be able to help the parents reach an agreement through a creative solution that both can feel comfortable with. Maybe the child will be allowed to use social media as long as there are strict parental controls in place. Maybe the parents will come up with a set of guidelines, including time limits, allowed and prohibited platforms, acceptable content, and privacy rules. Having the child and both parents involved in drafting the agreement can help everyone feel heard and respected.

Court Involvement in Parenting Disputes

If parents are unable to resolve their dispute on their own and mediation does not work, they may end up having a court dispute. As in all matters concerning a child, if a judge is called on to make a ruling about a child’s social media use, the decision will be based first and foremost on what the court deems to be in the child’s best interest.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Family Law Attorney

If you and your ex cannot see eye to eye when it comes to your child’s social media use, ask a qualified Wheaton, IL joint custody lawyer for help. At A. Traub & Associates, we are dedicated to helping families overcome challenges together. Call us at 630-426-0196 to schedule a private consultation.