Virtual visitation is sometimes used when a parent has parenting time following a divorce but is not geographically close to the child. Perhaps the other parent moved out of state, and it has become difficult to get time away from work and the financial means necessary to travel that distance every other week.
Virtual visitation is also known as electronic visitation or Internet visitation. The concept became much more popular during the pandemic when social distancing kept many divorced parents and their children apart. Virtual visits often take place using apps like Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime that use a webcam on a laptop, tablet, or cellphone.
Virtual visits are generally seen as an addition to “standard” electronic forms of communication like text messaging, instant messaging, email, or messaging through social media apps like Instagram or Facebook. These forms of communication lack the personal aspect of actually seeing the other person, which is why virtual visitation can help both the parent and child who are not able to see one another frequently.