Tech boundaries made easy: Verizon’s new Family Tech Agreement
Discover how Verizon’s new Family Tech Agreement—created with FOSI—helps families build healthy digital habits together with expert guidance and simple, real-life tools.
As a parent, I’m right there with you: raising kids in the digital world feels like trying to read a book while the pages keep rewriting themselves. My son is 10, which means every new app, device feature or social trend seems to travel faster than my ability to fully understand it. And truthfully? Even working at Verizon and leading Parenting in a Digital World and reviewing hundreds of articles by our experts, I still find myself wishing for a little more clarity, a little more structure, and a little more support.
That’s exactly why we created the Verizon Family Tech Agreement in partnership with the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and our digital-wellbeing experts. It’s a simple, practical way for families to set healthy technology habits together. And I want to emphasize together, because this isn’t about parents dictating rules from the top down. It’s about opening conversations, building trust, and giving kids a sense of ownership over the technology that’s a growing part of their lives.
“The most effective tech agreements are the ones families create side by side,” says Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute. “When kids help shape the expectations, they’re far more likely to follow them — and to come back to parents when something feels confusing or unsafe.”
One of the things our experts remind us often — and that I’ve taken to heart at home — is that boundaries aren’t about restriction; they’re about direction. Kids today aren’t just learning how to use devices. They’re learning how to be human in an online world we never experienced at their age. Setting expectations early creates the kind of structure that helps them thrive, not just comply.
What should a Family Tech Agreement look like?
Good question. Based on our work with FOSI and insights from the experts, here’s what makes a Family Tech Agreement effective, approachable and lasting:
- How your child will use their device — what apps, when, and where.
- What screen time looks like in your home — balanced, realistic and consistent.
- When and where tech-free moments matter most — meals, bedtime, family outings.
- How to think about downloading apps, making purchases and engaging online.
- What safety tools — like parental controls or location features — you’ll use together.
- What to do when mistakes happen (because they will!) — open communication without shame.
“Technology shouldn’t be something families react to — it should be something they navigate together,” says Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov who frequently writes for Parenting in a Digital World. “A shared agreement makes it easier to talk about tough moments, reset expectations, and keep kids involved in the process.”
It’s not a one-time document; it’s a living agreement. It grows with your child and your family’s rhythm. And importantly, it includes both sides — so your child pledges their part, and you pledge yours. Because children are watching how we use technology just as closely as they’re listening to what we say about it.
At home, when I sign it with my son, I’m not just asking him to build good habits — I’m holding myself accountable, too. It reminds me that I’m modeling the behavior I want to see. And when the digital world feels overwhelming, that shared agreement becomes a touchstone for calm and clarity.
Of course, the agreement is a starting place — but not the finish line. Through the Verizon Family App and the guidance in Parenting in a Digital World, you’ll find tools to set screen-time limits, block inappropriate content, monitor location when appropriate, and open ongoing conversations about digital citizenship. These tools aren’t here to replace parenting — they’re here to make it more supported.
“Kids don’t need perfection from us — they need partnership,” says Sarah Werle Kimmel who frequently writes for Parenting in a Digital World. “When parents model predictable tech habits, it becomes easier for kids to do the same. Agreements simply give everyone a shared roadmap.”
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not doing anything wrong. Technology is evolving quickly for all of us. But with a shared plan, clear expectations and the right tools, the digital world becomes a lot less daunting — and a lot more empowering.
I invite you to download the agreement and use it as a fresh start or a next step, no matter where you are in your parenting journey. It’s flexible, simple and designed to grow with your child — just like the conversations you’ll have along the way.
Download Family Tech Agreement now.
