When most people think about a parenting plan, they think about weekends, holidays, vacations, and pickup times. But today’s parents know there’s another issue that can create just as much conflict: The phone.
Who decides when a child gets to have a phone? How about social media? How much screen time is appropriate? Should a 12-year-old have Snapchat? Is TikTok acceptable? What about AI chatbots? Can a child have unlimited access at one parent’s house if the other parent has strict rules? What do parental controls look like? Or location sharing? These questions are becoming increasingly common in family courts, and Connecticut has recognized just how significant the issue has become.
Connecticut Takes Action
In June 2026, Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act 26-15, commonly referred to as Connecticut’s Online Safety Act. The legislation establishes new protections designed to reduce potential harms that children may experience online, including protections related to social media, artificial intelligence, and certain online platforms used by minors. Many of the law’s provisions are intended to curb addictive platform features, increase transparency, and better protect young users from online risks. While the law primarily regulates technology companies (not parents), it reflects something family law attorneys have been seeing for years because children’s digital lives have become an increasingly important parenting issue.
The New Reality of Co-Parenting
Years ago, parents disagreed about curfews or television. Today, they disagree about:
- Whether a child should have social media
- Screen time limits
- AI chatbot use
- Online gaming
- Cell phone ownership
- Cyberbullying
- Location sharing
- Monitoring apps
- Internet privacy
- Posting children’s photos online
It isn’t unusual for one parent to have strict technology rules while the other allows unrestricted access. Unfortunately, children often learn to play one household against the other.
Can a Court Decide These Issues?
Sometimes. If parents share joint legal custody, major decisions affecting a child’s welfare are expected to be made jointly. While obviously not every little disagreement about electronics belongs in court, ongoing disputes that affect a child’s health, education, emotional well-being, or safety may eventually require legal intervention. As research continues to examine the effects of excessive screen time, social media, online exploitation, and AI interactions on children, courts may increasingly view digital safety as part of a child’s overall best interests.
What Is “Digital Parenting”?
Although Connecticut law doesn’t require it, many co-parents would benefit from discussing technology expectations just as they discuss school schedules or extracurricular activities.
Some topics to consider include:
- At what age will your child receive a smartphone?
- Which social media platforms are permitted?
- What are the daily screen time limits?
- Are parental controls required? If so, should both parents have access?
- Can the child use AI chatbots?
- How will cyberbullying be handled?
- Can either parent post the child on social media?
- Will devices be allowed in bedrooms overnight?
- How will each parent communicate with the child while they’re with the other parent?
If these expectations are discussed ahead of time, there are likely to be fewer conflicts later.
Parenting Plans Continue to Evolve
Parenting plans used to focus almost exclusively on physical schedules. Today’s families face issues that didn’t exist twenty years ago. As technology becomes a larger part of children’s everyday lives, parents, and eventually the courts, will likely spend more time addressing digital parenting. Connecticut’s new Online Safety Act is a reminder that protecting children now extends beyond the playground and into the online world.
At Wolf & Shore Law Group, we encourage parents to think proactively. Whether you’re negotiating a parenting plan, modifying an existing custody order, or simply trying to navigate co-parenting disagreements, considering your child’s digital life today may help avoid conflict tomorrow.
If you have questions about custody, parenting plans, or co-parenting issues in Connecticut, the attorneys at Wolf & Shore Law Group are here to help. We take the time to listen, explain your legal options, and help you determine the best course of action for you and your family. Contact us today at 203.745.3151 or info@wolfandshorelawgroup.com. Ever Argue with a Woman?