Post‐Separation Parenting Apps: A Survey of Separated Parents

ABSTRACT A staggering number of post‐separation parenting apps are now available in Australia. These apps vary in cost and features and generally offer a messaging tool, shared calendar, expense tracker and the ability to export records for legal purposes. In this article, we report on an online survey of 140 separated parents who were using a post‐separation parenting app or had done so in the past. Our sample largely comprised separated parents in high conflict or where one parent was fearful of the other. The most common reason for using an app was to manage interparental conflict, followed by the desire to simplify post‐separation parenting arrangements and lastly to improve personal safety. Just over two‐thirds of respondents felt that using a co‐parenting app had a mostly positive effect on their relationship. The messaging and third‐party access features were seen as the biggest contributors to interparental conflict.