Can my mom take away my laptop if I paid for it with my own money?
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RuneOfTheDeltas2012
Apr 13, 2026
0
#1
Srry y’all ik otf isnt the place to ask this but all my apps have a screen time limit that lasts the whole day (with one minute at 12:00 am bcuz she couldn’t make it last 24/7) except for chess.com
Apr 13, 2026
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#2
And so far she just rants about how I do nothing but use my computer whenever I have it (not true) and how I’m only supposed to have an hour a day anyways so which she had never really enforced (also some YouTube videos are longer than that)
Apr 13, 2026
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#3
So since she just rants whenever I ask her, does that mean she just holds onto it indefinitely? (I still paid for it with my own Venmo)
Apr 13, 2026
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#4
Can anyone just search it up for me? Whenever I try to ask Siri it just gives me web results (my browsers are also blocked all day every day, just like everything else on this phone)
Apr 13, 2026
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#6
If your a minor im pretty sure in the US all your property is legally also hers but its kinda a Grey area if u made the money thru other means that has no connection to you mom, but there are a lot more things so honestly this is a go to the library and read about laws kinda thing lol
Apr 13, 2026
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#7
But when it comes to digital purchases u have to be 18 so if its venmo im pretty sure it doesn't matter
Apr 13, 2026
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#8
I mean, I used a Venmo teen account, so where does that fall on the spectrum?
I mean shes ur mom, naturally even though you got it with your own money, she'd want to do what's best for you and take away your laptop when she gets worried. she probably fears that you might waste away ur life sitting in front of a computer or smth. if u show her u can balance out ur screen time properly and responsibly and that you know the importance of limiting screen time, she'll prob be less harsh about these rules.
Apr 13, 2026
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#11
#9 I’m not gonna ask a lawyer about the situation
#10 I try, but there’s not really a way to show her I understand if I don’t have it.
#10 I try, but there’s not really a way to show her I understand if I don’t have it.
Austintheminecrafter3800 wrote:
Srry y’all ik otf isnt the place to ask this but all my apps have a screen time limit that lasts the whole day (with one minute at 12:00 am bcuz she couldn’t make it last 24/7) except for chess.com
Hey I'm also in the same boat my parents have parental controls on my phone and it locks at 8pm and I can only make calls and it unlocks until 8am. Also I have a Nintendo switch that I bought and they usually take it away but at that point I just gave up since I live under their roof and it most certainly will turn into a whole disscussion and I would end up losing. So my advice is just ignore it honestly not much to do.
Apr 13, 2026
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#14
#13 yeah ik except mine locks at 12AM and unlocks at 11:59PM (1 minute before it locks again) essentially making my phone useless for anything except calling and playing chess (and there’s no point in calling my friends if I can’t play with them using one of my other devices)
Ohhh I know what you mean now that.... that is actually outrageous. Has this rule been on since you got a phone?
Apr 13, 2026
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#16
No, but I think it was added after my mom caught me and my friends on our phones playing together at a sleepover (on a weekend)
Apr 13, 2026
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#19
Well I am “sure” she would change her mind if you showed her this very thoughtful thread that you made.
If you are under the age of 16 you and everything you have is under your parents control largely because they are legally responsible for you. Which means, among other things, if you screw up they pay the price.
In the US, when you turn 16 you have a legal right to leave home, at which time you are "emancipated" ( on your own )
However, if you live in their home, they make the rules. Period.