Why won't my parents let me have any privacy online?

[Jollystraw285]

So, I asked my parents for a Facebook and Instagram account. My mom said yes to both, but they need to keep my password for my Facebook account at all times. My dad said the same thing about Facebook, but he said no to Instagram. He said he would talk to my mother, and if I got an Instagram, they need my password for that too. I said to both of them "I can't have ANY privacy?" And they both said "When your 18, and gone, you can do whatever you like!"

All I want to do on Facebook is connect with my cousin that I only get to see once every couple years, and only on Christmas. On Instagram, I want to connect with my friends from school, talk to a girl I like (I also plan to flirt with her on there), and post selfies and funny pictures. I am turning 16 in 2 months, and I feel like I should at least have some privacy. I'd don't want them to say "I saw you calling So-And-So gorgeous!" Why do they think I'm going to post something bad and won't let me have privacy?

By the way, they DON'T have the password to my Yahoo or YouTube account. So, why do they need my Facebook and Instagram account?

[LAC]

Just because they have the password doesn't mean they're going to do anything. You just need to trust your parents a bit more, otherwise it could cause all kinds of problems.

[Mircat]

You are 15 years old and there are not so nice people out there and you can get into a lot of trouble. They have the right to monitor where you go on the Internet. You have a telephone, you can call the girl you know at school. You don't need an account on facebook or Instagram to be friends.

[David]

Who do you think you are talking to now........

i am Sue 12yo from the UK

well actually.. i am a 49 year old Male from uk with children your age
they are checking up on you because they care , there are plenty of
strange people online , so be careful
and be thankful that your Parents worry about your safety online

[Barbara]

They just care about you is all. I know it's annoying, but keep in mind that it wasn't that long ago that social media did not exist. Your parents probably are worried that you'll post something on there that is inappropriate (keep in mind that even if you delete it, that doesn't necessarily mean it is gone. It could ALWAYS come back to haunt you in the future), or you could come into contact with someone who may not be the best affiliation for you to have. I know someone who wrote a nasty note to his girlfriend on Facebook after she broke up with him, and five years later, that same note surfaced in a job interview (he freaked out and didn't end up getting the job). I know another person who tweeted an somewhat inappropriate selfie two years ago on Twitter, and this January her employer found it. She had deleted it, but once you put something on the Internet, it's there forever, and so her employer came across it one day. You may think that these things could never happen to you, but then again, neither did these people.

Instead of fighting with your parents over this (which will never get you anywhere), use this as an opportunity to earn their trust. With time, once they see that you are responsible and not posting anything inappropriate or engaging with anyone who may be dangerous, they will perhaps give you more leniency.

[joseph h]

It is okay. Your parent try to care you & avoiding you from mixing with the wrong people. It is okay. When mixing with he wrong people, it will drastically affects your adult life.
Most youth would feel themselves mature & can be independent. It is totally opposite where it affects the future, mentally thinking & ambitions.

[Jasmine]

They don't trust you or your choices I guess. Parents are just like that

[Victoria]

The reason why your parents won't let you have an privacy online is because they are controlling.Clearly they don't care about your online safety because you just said they don't have the password to your Yahoo and YouTube account.If they were really concerned with your safety,they would go on your computer daily and check your history and they would have passwords to every account you made.My parents do the exact same thing to me all the time,especially when it comes to going in my room.My parents say they should be able to go in my room whenever they want to make sure it is is clean,to get something that they want,or to check the history on my computer,however my parents only try to get into my room when I'm not there.I am currently in virtual school,so the most of the time I'm in my room and it has been like that since 7th grade,and not once have they tried to get into my room.However as soon as I left to go do the F-cat,my parents went into my room and starting throwing things away,read my diary and made a big mess.