Why Every Family Needs a Technology Agreement (and How to Make One)

Screen time arguments. Secret app downloads. Late-night gaming sessions. If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone — and there is a practical tool that can help.

A family technology agreement is a simple written contract between parents and kids that sets clear expectations around device use, online behavior, privacy, and screen time. It is not about policing every click — it is about starting a conversation and making expectations clear before problems arise.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect campaign recently released a Family Online Safety Agreement designed to help families talk through five key areas: asking permission before downloading apps, being kind and respectful online, protecting personal information, balancing screen time, and trusting each other enough to speak up when something goes wrong.

The agreement works best when families fill it out together. Kids get a say in the rules that affect them, and parents get a framework to talk about difficult topics like fake profiles, deepfakes, and online grooming in an age-appropriate way.

Whether your child is 8 or 18, a technology agreement gives everyone the same playbook. Post it on the fridge. Review it when a new app or device enters the house. Update it as your kids grow.

Read the full resource: Know2Protect Family Online Safety Agreement (PDF)

Start the conversation today. If you see something online that concerns you — inappropriate contact, grooming behavior, or suspicious messages directed at a child — report it. Visit our Report a Predator page to learn how.