This local story about a man accused of trolling myspace for young teens/girls cinches it for me — Lillian is not allowed on social newtork sites until she's 18!
More seriously, what's the best way for a parent to monitor this stuff? It would be hard to monitor myspace/facebook and everything else out there every day. But you can't just deny the access to this new method of communication.
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7 comments:
Make you own account and make your kids put you on their friends list. Also, make sure they have their page set up so only people they have friended can see it. Also, have a talk with them about perverts and people who would do them harm.
I don't think "monitoring" is the best way to go, per se. I think parents should sit down with their children and have an open, honest conversation with them, expressing their expectations and concerns.
Communication is key in any relationship, and I think either blocking children from certain sites, or even spying on them, is a breach in trust on the parent's behalf. Ideally, if a parent is able to articulate their concerns and the reasons behind their decision to their child without coming across as overbearing, I think most children will respect their parent's wishes.
Well, if you had worked a case of a 25 year old guy driving from Wichita to sneak a 13 year old girl out of her house after sending her pictures of his misshapen manhood, then maybe you wouldn't think monitoring your child's internet usage is so bad.
Take it from someone who knows what kind of perverts are out there... because kids DO NOT understand what types of people are out there. They are naive. Just like you.
WHY CAN'T YOU DENY IT? How about having their friends over to the house to play a little basketball, or play catch with a baseball.? Something that will give them exercise (so we don't have to pay teachers to take them for walks and bike rides). If you are going to allow your children the opportunity to 'surf the net', then be prepared to knowingly put them in harms way!
So I suppose a parent should not even bother to sit down with their child, and actually address the fact that there are dangers out in the world that they should be aware of? I suppose you feel it's better for a parent to not even make any attempt at honesty, and just shield them away from the entire world so that they remain ignorant to such dangers?
Pardon the bluntness, but that's stupidity on your behalf.
Rachel,
I'm not sure if your last comment was directed at me or not, but the last sentence of my first post said:
"Also, have a talk with them about perverts and people who would do them harm."
If your comment was directed at the anonymous poster between us, then, in the immortal words of Emily Litella:
"Never mind"
if you think that your children has the right to privacy on the computer you are part of the problem . Make them sign you on as a friend , that is the best way , as a parent you have the right to check up on your children when on the computer you provide the service for.. Children do have rights , but they are restricted
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