What Is Your Perceived Parental Right?

Posted May 7th 2009 3:06PM by Francis Duncan
Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Sharing Info Online, Internet Dangers, Articles of Interest

Common Sense Media posted an article recently talking about if parents should read their kids' text messages.

While the article was interesting, I was intrigued by the comments. It is clear which comments are from teens and which are from worried parents.

When I was a teen, I was mortified when my parents violated my perceived divine right to privacy. In fairness to them, they didn't violate it often. And in hindsight, I was more protective of things they probably would not have cared about than I needed to be, but I still needed my sense of privacy.

The balance of what privacy and a parents' need to know debate will continue over dinner tables for many years to come. I think that most people would agree on the extremes. If their child is in danger, a parent will go through every text or email ever written if they think it will help. On the other hand, teens are learning about themselves and part of that is having a sense of privacy. The challenge is in the middle.

Where do you think the balance is? Do parents have the "right" to read every message their child/teen sends? What level of privacy do teens deserve?

Comments (1)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

C. Pauli 6-26-2009 @ 10:28AM

THE Family is not a DEMOCRACY.

As long as mom and dad feed, house and provide the necessary life support . . . under MY ROOF it is my RULES. You want your RULES and RIGHTS, they must be earned and paid for by you.

If you have a history of acting in a responsible fashion, are perceived as a leader and NOT a 'do anything to be accepted' sheep . . . chances are your eMail is safe from parental viewing.

The people (young and old) must understand that 'facebook' and all that is sent to the INTERNET will be available for others to view FOREVER! So, if as a child your ranting about the LEGALIZATION of DRUGS and how MJ and the 420 crew are the ONLY ENLIGHTENED people alive on Earth . . . your application for UNIVERSITY or to become a JUDGE could be adversley effected. Right up their with the fashion statement of the moment . . . to get Tattoo's which will be with you or the SCAR for life. One's body should not be used as a 'scratch pad!' Purple hair of a bone in your nose is reversable . . .