Post-Separation Parenting Apps: Potential benefits and risks in the context of family violence
Date
2023
Authors
Irving, Michelle
Smyth, Bruce
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Publisher
Butterworths
Abstract
Parental separation and the subsequent management of shared parental
responsibilities are well-documented flashpoints for conflict and family
violence. A growing number of post-separation parenting applications
(‘apps’) purport to help parents by improving communication and
reducing conflict and stress. These apps generally comprise a
messaging tool, shared calendar, expense tracker and the ability to
export records. This article examines the evidence for the use of postseparation
parenting apps in the context of family violence. Specifically,
we review two related but disparate bodies of literature and observe that
(a) research that spans post-separation digital communication,
coparenting, and family violence is fragmented; (b) there is little empirical
work on post-separation technology-facilitated abuse in the context of
coparenting; (c) there are a range of risks that separated parents
(especially women) are likely to be exposed to when using postseparation
parenting apps; and (d) these risks — as well as potential
benefits — need to be better understood by family law professionals and
separated parents alike.
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Source
Australian Journal of Family Law
Type
Journal article
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Access Statement
Open Access