What Happens When Divorced Parents Disagree About Social Media Use in Texas?

 Posted on September 30,2024 in Family Law

When parents go through a divorce, many disagreements can come to light. Whether their arguments are about what to feed their child, how much screen time they should have, or how to handle homework, there are endless potential points of contention.

A law that was recently enacted in Texas aiming to regulate parental control over children’s social media use has highlighted another source for arguments that could have parents seeking to modify their custody arrangement. If you and your ex disagree about which social media practices are appropriate for your child, speak with a reliable Llano, TX family law attorney to understand how to address this.

How Can Custody Arrangements Affect a Child’s Social Media Use?

When parents are involved in a custody dispute, social media usage can be just one of many sources of arguments. One parent might advocate for their child’s safety by seeking to protect the child from harmful or inappropriate content. The other might focus more on helping the child develop healthy independence by encouraging her to make smart choices.

In Texas, custody is divided into two main sections: Possession - otherwise known as visitation, or the time that a parent is physically with the child and responsible for them - and conservatorship - the right and obligation to make important decisions that can impact the child. A parenting plan includes detailed explanations about how parents will divide possession and conservatorship. The questions that might arise about a child’s social media use can be further complicated by custody arrangements, as follows.

Texas generally awards parents some type of joint conservatorship, so even if one parent has sole possession, both parents will have a say in decisions that affect their child. If the child lives with one parent exclusively and is trying to become an online influencer with that parent’s encouragement, the other parent could petition the court to modify the custody arrangement or restrict the child’s social media accounts if they feel that the child’s well-being is not protected.

On the other hand, if one parent has sole managing conservatorship and the other parent believes the child’s best interests are at risk due to their social media conduct, the non-managing parent can petition the court to modify the conservatorship terms or address specific issues regarding social media.

As with all decisions that can affect a child, if the court needs to intervene because parents cannot agree about what their child should be allowed to do online, it will review all available information and make a ruling based on what it believes is in the child’s best interest.

Contact a Marble Falls, TX Family Law Attorney

If you and your ex cannot see eye to eye on your child’s social media use, speak with a Llano County, TX child custody lawyer to understand how the newly and partially enacted SCOPE Act can influence a resolution to your disagreement. At Law Office of Russ Alan Baker, PLLC, we are passionate about helping parents and families overcome disputes. Call us at 325-216-2006 to schedule a private consultation.