.bmp)
Do you think it is okay for a parent to spy on their teenager's Facebook account? I know a couple of mothers who admittedly do, and I know they sometimes struggle with the mixed bag of guilt and sense of responsibility while doing it.
As an empty-nester, it's been a while since I've had teenagers at home so I never had to deal with this issue first-hand. In fact, my kids still remind me how stubborn I was about moving our internet connection from dial-up to the broadband offered by the cable TV provider. While they were sure I was being obstinate, I actually found dial-up to have one distinct advantage over the faster services - neither of my teenagers could be on the telephone and the internet at the same time. While one would always want to use the computer, the other was constantly nagging that they needed to make a phone call. Voila - restricted access to both technologies without my intervention. I thought it was brilliant! Oh, those were the days - not really all that long ago, but seems like decades since we relied on a single phone and shared computer access.
Though it's difficult to keep up with the speed of change, parenting needs to stay abreast of technology advances. I do not think it's a violation of privacy to monitor a teenager's Facebook page, in fact I think it's prudent to do so. From the moment of their birth, parents take on the responsibility of protecting their children from harm and monitoring social interaction is just an extension of that. Teenagers, in particular, are vulnerable to outside influences and when they're on the net they are exposed to a lot of 'outsiders'.
Read the recent MSNBC article: 60 percent of US parents spy on teens' Facebook accounts.
What's your opinion? Do you think it is okay for a parent to spy on a teenager's Facebook page?
Have a topic you'd like to see discussed on Simply Squirrel Food? Send me an email I'd love to hear from you.
Recent posts:
Hmm...well, I don't think it's actually spying AND I think you're exactly right. It's a parent's responsbility to keep their kids safe. That can me safe from getting themselves into trouble on the internet or safe from bullies at school.
ReplyDeleteMy son left his Facebook page up on my laptop one time and the first thing I saw on the page was in instant message from a boy (a troubled boy, I might add)that promised to "bash my son's head in" the next day at school. I know the boy that threatened him and immediately questioned my son about the message. Was he worried? Did he feel threatened? Should I contact the school?
Nope to all. My son assured me there was no problem at all and that this kid was actually afraid of everyone at school and did this sort of thing all of the time. I cued the mother in regarding the situation and she was already working with the school and counselors to help him.
This was a benign situation but there are plenty out there that aren't. I was lucky to have run across the message, "Just in case." What if my son really was worried and this was a valid threat? I would sure like to know! Maybe the answer is to have access to your kid's account to not spy, but "spot check," just in case.
Thanks for the comment Diane. You make a very good argument for why a parent would want to monitor, at least occasionally their teen's Facebook page. It's good to know your son wasn't threatened by either the kid or the fact that his Mom saw the message. He sounds pretty secure and knowing Mom is always on his side is the basis for that security.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, all the time. I don't consider it spying, since all of my kids are well aware of exactly what I monitor (everything). I have passwords to their emails, Facebook, etc. And I check them all, all the time. I have Blue Coat K9 web protection on our computers. I will go to any lengths to protect my kids...privacy is not a right! Too many perverts and other dangerous people out there.
ReplyDeleteI agree April it's a parent's responsbility to protect kids from all the creeps 'out there'. But at what age do you think it's okay to leave them on their own?
DeleteI personally see nothing wrong with it. My own cousins would hide info from their parents as teens and talk about it on social media sites like Facebook. I think it could be a way for parents to help their kids in the long run. The way I see it is if kids don't want some things known, then you shouldn't post it on the world wide web!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Sarah - if it's info that you don't want your parents to see it's probably not a very good idea to post it on the world wide web to begin with! Thanks for the comments - I appreciate it.
Delete