Should Parents Be Allowed?

to access their childrens internet sites/conversations?

If NO, what age is acceptable?

I Think It Totally Depends On The Childs Request Of Privacy, I Think Privacy Is Something Every Parent Should Honor...Unless There Is Something Their Keeping Private That They Really Shouldn't, It All Depends xoxo-Nikki-xoxo

Yes most definitely. Every parent should monitor what their child is doing on the internet...it can be very dangerous nowadays.

keep in mind there are alot of 12 and 13 year olds who come on line.

if i had a child that age, i'd want to know what they are doing.

You're 13, you don't want your parents to do a lot of things that are good for you. I was the same way and still am.

ReBecca, most of the answers that you get here are going to be from kids who don't want parental supervision. You asked "should parents be allowed ...? the answer is that you ARE allowed to monitor and supervise your children's activities. There is nothing stopping you. It really is a question of how far you want to extend your monitoring. But I don't think any parent is wise to give their kids the complete freedom to do whatever they want on the net. I don't even trust my own discretion. In fact, I think I'm going to put my son in charge of monitoring me! :D

APATHETIC::: you are 13. right now, my question is what time is it where you are at?

you are here in the U.S. Yet it is1:10 central standard time, and you are 13....WHY are you even allowed to be awake, much less on the internet?

Apathetic Soul: In my opinion, a parent is a parent and a child is a child. You don't have to know everything...

lmao...they are ADULTS. Whatever they do on the internet is their business, they're entirely responsible for their own actions.

I agree but they are still adults.

personally: i think a child has the right to their privacy. but i also think that there is an age where it acceptable. NO i dont think that someone who is 12 and 13 is mature enough to handle being on the internet at this time of night.

why not?

i do feel age is subjective

no.

i am 33 (you checked out my profile) but that doesnt mean i think that you can overlook your children. i do not speak for all, but if you have children that you love, you try to protect them, no matter the cost.

Shiky I am 39 & I don't get it.

I have 5 children ages 12, 13, 14, 15 & 21

I monitor what they do on the net all the time & they know it. If they are doing things that are unacceptable, they are off the net for a loooong time & they are aware of that. I check the history, I check out who they are chatting with, I may even read their e-mail if I feel like I need to. (I hardly ever do this) I am their mother & it's my job to know what they are up to.
It's no different than if they were gone somewhere for a few hours without calling, they all know I will come looking for them because I am supposed to know what they are doing. That's what a parent does. I don't do this as much with the 21 year old because he is an adult, but even at 21 if he is not going to be home before I go to bed, he will call, because he knows I can't sleep until all my children are accounted for & he has enough respect for me to understand that it's a crazy world & parents worry.

thank you tammy!!!! who is to care for our children if we dont?

Rebecca, I totally agree.
Kids don't understand what it means to be a parent & all the worries that we have. They don't have a clue how deep a parents love is for their children. I always thought my mom just didn't want me to have any fun, now I know she was protecting me from things I had no idea about as a teenager. (even though I thought I knew everything) LOL
Thank God I had a mother that cared.

Love, yes that's what I said.
Until you have children, you have no idea. I don't believe there is a greater love in this world than that of a mother for her child.

really?

You know, it IS hard to believe when you are a good caring mother. I have a real hard time accepting these women who abandon their children out of selfishness, because they want to party or be with some man . I can't think of a reason to leave my children. I believe one day, these women will deeply regret what they are doing. Too bad it's the children who have to suffer.

Being a teenager, I dont want my parents reading my conversations or tracking my internet activity, but I understand why parents would want to and I think ultimately it is their right to do so.

Whether this is "fair" or not, parents have all rights to their childrens lives until they are 18.

Yes, actually we do.

My parents always say, "If you want privacy, move out until then you have no privacy except that which I give you."

Taylor-

When our daughter was 13 she was talking to a guy who was 21, who was telling her he was 14- she was in the process of setting up a meeting with him when she left her e-mail open & I used the computer after her & read it.... She DID NOT meet this guy. They were doing the cyber sex thing & the whole bit. Which, in my opinion, is VERY unacceptable for a 13 year old child.
That is one of MANY reasons we watch what our kids do on the net.
Also, it's not like I am standing over their shoulder while they are on the net, but if I do happen to come stand behind them, they better hope what they are doing is ok. If they are chatting and suddenly feel the need to minimize the window because I am there, then I assure you I will read it every time. I have noticed that most of the time they do this because they or the other person are using language I do not approve of.
As far as privacy goes, our children have all the privacy they want...until they break our trust.
Bottom line is WE are the parents, YOU are the children.... We have the right to know what you are doing.
My mother made a lot of decisions that I didn't think were fair when I was growing up, now I am glad she made them. Maybe one day you will all understand the parents view on things.

that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard

maybe your parents don't care but mine do...speak for yourself only

I'm sorry to hear...that's unfortunate. But there are parents who do care about their children...so don't go around saying stuff like:

"there selfish, and they dont give a fuk bout n e one else. there always thinking about THEMSELVES...it makes me sick"

Shiky-
It sounds to me like you need to grow up. You are 16 years old and acting like a spoiled little 10 year old.
I am really sorry about your mother, no child should have to deal with that, but that gives you no right to go around taking it out on everyone else. I have had a lot of really bad things happen in my life. I could have lived my life being bitter & blaming everyone else for the things that happened or feeling sorry for myself, but you know what? I wanted a better life than that. Maybe you should think about the quality of life you want to have & let some things go. Go see a counsler or something. I can tell you, forgiveness is an amazing thing, you wouldn't believe how much better your life could be if you forgave some people instead of holding it all inside & then lashing out at everyone. It's not easy, but maybe you should give it a try.

ShIkY - You don't have to answer at all, but what happened with your parents then?

I think everyone is allowed the right to privacy and Tammy, I think you are going a little too far with reading all the messenger conversations if they close the window and reading emails and standing over their shoulder to watch. I think that is a breach of privacy and would screw if my mum did that!!! It's not fair, everyone is entitled to a certain rate of privacy.

In every relationship, there's always a little something called TRUST. My parents totally trust me, they know I am sensible and know I won't do anything stupid. It's not nearly 12am, and I'm still online on my computer. And they know this. It's called trust.

I agree with Angelina

Yup, it's all about the trust people.

I'm the trust worthiest person in the world...lol. My parents trust me so much that it kills me...some times I wish they wouldn't. Its such a huge responsibilty...

I still believe no parent should fully trust their child to do whatever they want to do. A certain amount of trust is good but 100% trust, no way!

Tell 'em..well said bob. I give up! One of these days, every teenager out there who believes they should have all their privacy, is going to change their mind.

That's my point.
A parent can teach their children right from wrong their whole lives, but it is up to the child to use what they were taught and make the right decisions. No child is going to make the right decision 100% of the time. We have pretty good kids, but they still mess up from time to time. That is where we come in, as parents, to double check their decisions, make sure they are doing the right thing.
AND I am not standing over their shoulders watching all the time as you make it sound. BUT they never know when I may check the history or check out who they are talking to. Also, it is my right as a parent to read what is being said if they minimize a window when I come around. Why would you do this if you are doing nothing wrong???
It's funny that you all seem to have such a problem with this, because our children don't have any problem with it at all. They are aware we are the parents & we make the rules. They can follow the rules or not use the internet.

You go Bob!!!

When you are all parents you will understand where we are coming from.

if the kids are totally immature and untrustable than yes

but im 13, im not like doing anything like wrong

but thats what firewalls are for
i cant even get into the explict section here

its annoying

I'm only 11. And from what i read some of you are right the internet can e dangerous to some kids younger than 14.But I don't think parents should spy on conversations they have or know what they do unless they are almost 100% sure they know its bad.