A family media agreement: template and how it really helps

What is a media use agreement?

A media use agreement is a shared agreement on how digital media is used in the family. Its real value lies not in the paper, but in the conversation that happens while negotiating it.

What belongs in it?

• Which devices and apps — and from what age.
• Times and screen-free zones (e.g. dinner table, bedroom).
• Handling costs and in-app purchases.
• What to do about problems like bullying or upsetting content.
• Consequences — fair and agreed in advance, together.
• What also applies to the parents.

What's the most common mistake?

The most common mistake is an agreement only the parents write: that's a set of house rules — not an agreement. What matters is that both sides write along and feel heard.

Understand first, then agree — why?

Understanding first, then agreeing pays off because an agreement only holds when both sides know how the other experiences digital daily life. So before you write down rules, it helps to understand how each side experiences it. Digital Mastery makes exactly these perspectives visible — so your agreement rests on real understanding rather than assumptions.