What if Parents Disagree About a Child’s Social Media Use?

 Posted on September 16, 2024 in Family Law

Following a divorce and the implementation of a parenting plan, there are often some obstacles to overcome when the parents disagree about a specific subject. These disagreements can result in high-conflict custody issues for virtually every parental decision. The use of social media is one such issue.

In the state of Texas, a part of the SCOPE law (HB 18) just went into effect. The highlight of this law is the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act. This Act is meant to protect children online while also providing parental controls and protections for parents. Parents in Texas may or may not agree with this new law and may not agree with one another regarding allowing their children to use social media.

If you and your ex are having disagreements regarding issues related to your child or children, sometimes the best step you can take is to speak to a knowledgeable McKinney, TX custody attorney from The Ramage Law Group. You can have all your questions answered, allowing you to make a sound decision regarding what you need to do to handle the disagreement.

What is Included in Texas HB 18?

The new law essentially requires parental consent for underage social media use. HB 18 includes platform registration rules and agreements from social media companies like TikTok and Snapchat to protect children and prevent advertisers from targeting them. The collection of data and information on children is prohibited for commercial use or any other type of use.  

One part of the SCOPE Act – ostensibly, the most controversial aspect - was at least temporarily blocked by a federal judge. This part of the Act would have required social media companies to prevent specific harm from coming to minors on their platforms. The judge felt the legislation for this part of the Act was simply too broad, as social media sites would have been responsible for preventing any information that:

• Involves child pornography

•  Facilitates or glorifies suicide

• Facilitates or glorifies self-harm, eating disorders, or substance abuse

• Involves stalking, bullying, harassment, grooming, or trafficking

If the provider fails to provide filtering techniques that prevent the information listed above from reaching minors, they could be fined $10,000 per violation. Social media companies have largely remained quiet about the new legislation, although some larger online companies have expressed concerns regarding government overreach.

How Can Parents Resolve a Disagreement Over a Child’s Use of Social Media?

While some children can handle using social media responsibly, others may need to be older before they can avoid its hazards. Ideally, you will discuss with your ex the age your child must be before you are both comfortable with him or her using social media. You should know the minimum age to use social media platforms so you can use this information as a starting point.

For example, Facebook and YouTube require a child to be at least 13 years old. Know what social media platforms your child is interested in and why. Ensure your child understands what behaviors are acceptable on social media. If you and your ex are still unable to reach a mutual decision, you will have to consider your level of custody and how far you are willing to take the issue.  

If you are a parent with legal and physical custody, you may have the ability to set social media rules for your child. This does not necessarily mean that your child’s other parent will respect your wishes. If the use of social media is not an issue you can agree on – and you both have strong, opposing opinions – you may be forced to get the court involved. This could result in a change in custody or a judge’s order for one or both parents.

Contact a Collin County, TX High-Conflict Custody Attorney

Social media can be a divisive subject between parents. If you are unable to resolve the issue of social media use for your child, you could benefit from speaking to a McKinney, TX high-conflict custody attorney from The Ramage Law Group. Our firm focuses on collaborative law and client relationships. We are an all-woman firm with child-focused attorneys. Contact The Ramage Law Group at 972-562-9890 to schedule an appointment.