For or against parents logging onto kids facebooks?

[Guy Withagrin]

Totally against












No one should have a facebook account if they are under 21 anyhow. I don't have a facebook and I am twice that.

[Sosumi]

Privacy is not a right. If my child wants a social networking page, they will have the privilege of allowing me to monitor all traffic. We are not so far removed from days where houses had one phone in the middle of the living room and that was it. Where was the privacy there? That's right, there was no privacy when it came to talking with friends. My parents knew who all my friends were growing up. They had met all of my friends parents at least once. And because of all that leg work that my parents did to keep up with my social life, they allowed me a great deal of privileges. I'm not an old person either, I say this as a 20-something woman.

Facebook, while a great tool for staying in touch, is a privilege. Until my child can sufficiently prove to me that they can conduct themselves responsibly, I get access to everything.

[Superguy1221]

Parents should get their own facebook accounts and friend their kids.

[xXcutieXx]

AGAINST! God, parents should back off a bit and give their kids some privacy. Now, if there were a good reason for the parent to monitor it, that might be different. But I always think a parent should tell the kids that they'll monitor it. That fixes a lot of trust issues that might be involved.

[Squeakers]

My children are not allowed to have a Facebook account until they are 16 years old. The Internet is a dangerous place for kids and there really is no reason why they have to be on a social networking site. They can pick up the phone or go to their friend's house to talk.
I do let my kids use the Internet for homework/studying and to play games, but I monitor all their activities.

[spring time :)]

yes, yes, yes! parents should be aware of what their kids are doing especially online

[Shattered]

It depends...

Because for

1. Kids tend to act differently and talk differently around their friends... While it isn't necessarily disrespect for their friends; its just acting differently than they would around their parents or other adults. (I personally wouldn't want to get in trouble for how I talk with my friends because chances are; the way I talk to them I wouldn't talk to an adult that way)

2. Are you telling them that you are checking it or just doing it without your child knowing? Because if you doing it without your child knowing that you're going to look through it then they may not trust you. (Having your child trust you is just as important as you trusting them)

3. Is there a reason you actually have to Monitor their facebook? Because I think that if a child has proven they do not have to be monitored on facebook then I don't think that they should be monitored.

4. What will they get into trouble for if you see something? Will they get into trouble for things that their friends do? Like if you see them talking with one of their friends about how much they don't like a teacher (and you know how kids can get when talking about someone that they don't like) will they get into trouble for that? If their friends post something bad will your child get into trouble? If you see that your child is talking about something that you did that they didn't like will they get into trouble?

All in all; I think that if a child doesn't have to be monitored nor given you any reason to monitor them then I don't think they they shouldn't have to be monitored. I have a FB and my grandparents (or uncles) have to monitor it because I grew up on the internet so I know what and what not to do.

[Island Girl]

When I was younger I was going into chat rooms I shouldn't have been in, and even had very inappropriate conversations with people. I even told someone that I didn't even know, where I live, my phone number, how old I was. I was very lucky that nothing happened. My parents never followed me on the computer, and they probably should have, because I was obviously naive to the dangers and was too young to understand that bad people could actually hurt or take me away. And that was when dial-up was the only way to get on the internet, now a days there are so many different websites and chat rooms, and facebook, and kids just don't understand how it can be dangerous. Even if you do tell them, they will most likely ignore you or sneak around to do what they want. Their kids we all did it. At some age of course you can let them spread there wings, but kids defiantly need to be monitored in some way on facebook.

[Julia Tofan]

My parents don't go on to my account, they believe I need privacy and that my life is not their bussiness as long as I don't give them a reason not to trust me. I get good grades, hang out with nice people, and don't use it too much.

In some cases if something was wrong I think the account should definately be monitored. Of course if this is the case, the child should know that the account is to be looked at by a parent.

[Sam]

I depends on the kid.

I have one I monitor & one I don't. The 17 year old has more freedoms & has earned his right to some privacy.

The 16 year old...well he gets sucked into elaborate schemes with girls, his bio mom, signs up for adult dating sites & older sibs try to get him to steal for them (both kids are adopted). I'd be a complete fool to not check up on him.

As a parent my job it to protect my kids & raise them to be functioning adults. Kids over 13 don't equal tiny adult, they are still kids.