Never Too Safe Online Options

[Im So Vain]

In my recent issue of Teen Vogue there was an article about how, more teens are looking for love online. On sites like match.com, friendster, craigslist. makeoutclub, myspace, etc.

According to a September 2004 Dateline NBC report, one in five teens who chat or date online will be contacted by an online predator. As part of the show's investigation, a reporter and a team of volunteers created a fictional 14 year old Brooklyn girl who e-mailed with men in cyberspace. "She" eventually made plans to meet them for sex, In the course of a single afternoon more than eighteen men showed up at a house where they thought the young girl would be waiting alone for them. (Instead, they were greeted by Dateline reporters.)

QUESTIONS TO GET STARTED:
1.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised?

2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?

*Fell free to add anymore thoughts you have, beyond the two questions.

[M16A4]

Don't have a thing to say about one (yet), but as for two...

2. Parents already have the ability to monitor what kids do on the Internet using the same software companies use to keep track of what their employees do online: Spy programs. Most programs can monitor keystrokes, take screenshots, and can even mail you the logs to an e-mail of your choosing. However, parents: You're increasing the risk of your kid(s) going "WHAT, YOU DON'T TRUST ME? I HATE YOU FOREVER" if they should ever find out, and confronting them about this sort of stuff is unwritten, at best.

The only advice I would give is to teach them right from wrong FROM the beginning and your kids will work out this sort of thing by themselves. I've never been talked about online predators, but that doesn't mean I'll go whoring myself on the Internet.

[*RiC3xBoy*]

QUESTIONS TO GET STARTED:
1.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised?

2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?

1. Yes, to uhh...one day behind how old I am.
2. Yes, 100%

Side Comment: Thought the dateline story was HILARIOUS.

[toodlepops.]

1) As much as it's the best for children to raise the minimum age to an online personal, there just isn't any way. Kids can just lie about their age to get into sites. (which is already happening now is Friendster, Myspace, etc) If such a thing was possible, all this online predators wouldn't exist.

2) Yes, parents should have more control over their kids. But like Gearbox said, it could make the child lose trust in the parent which may lead to other social problems. Some parents now trust their kids too much, probably thinking their kids go to innocent sites while they maybe going to not-so-innocent sites.
It's just how the parents educate their children. If children were taught from the start which was right and wrong, "spying" on kids wouldn't be necessary.

[*tweeak*]

honestly, no. my sisters get free reign, and since my parents aren't worried about it, they don't do anything bad. they make a big deal about me, i rebel and go out of my way to hide things. lose lose situation.

[*mipadi*]

2. Parents already have the ability to monitor what kids do on the Internet using the same software companies use to keep track of what their employees do online: Spy programs. Most programs can monitor keystrokes, take screenshots, and can even mail you the logs to an e-mail of your choosing. However, parents: You're increasing the risk of your kid(s) going "WHAT,  YOU DON'T TRUST ME? I HATE YOU FOREVER" if they should ever find out, and confronting them about this sort of stuff is unwritten, at best.

Monitoring doesn't necessarily have to entail surreptitious monitoring; it can be as simple as having a computer in a "public" location in the home, and the parent periodically monitoring a child's activities online. Trust isn't inherent; it must be earned. I'm not saying a parent should constantly read over her child's shoulder, but a child should also not assume that he should have unlimited privacy while online.

[Im So Vain]

1) As much as it's the best for children to raise the minimum age to an online personal, there just isn't any way. Kids can just lie about their age to get into sites. (which is already happening now is Friendster, Myspace, etc) If such a thing was possible, all this online predators wouldn't exist.

Well yeah there are always ways to get around age limits, but if there was an age increase it will probably still narrow down some of those children who use their site everyday. Even though it seems like the sites like Myspace cant do anything about kids who lie about their age. I think that they should still probably try, I mean you can do just aout anything on the internet these days.

2) Yes, parents should have more control over their kids. But like Gearbox said, it could make the child lose trust in the parent which may lead to other social problems. Some parents now trust their kids too much, probably thinking their kids go to innocent sites while they maybe going to not-so-innocent sites.
It's just how the parents educate their children. If children were taught from the start which was right and wrong, "spying" on kids wouldn't be necessary.

I agree kids will think that their parents dont trust them if they monitor every movement they make on the net, but it is for their safety. There has been girls who've had real-life stalkers because of information they had on the net.
If you're like an older teenager, then parents should not worry about you too much because you are almost an adult. But I mean if you just browse Frienster and Myspace you'll see plenty of little girls (probably in middle school) who have pictures on there of them wearing bear midriffs, or just a bra and panties. So its no wonder why parents arent trusting their kids. I dont understand why people like to disrespect themselves like that. Most people that I know who have their own site's, have parents who are clueless about them. If you have nothing to hide then why not inform them of your online activity?

[artislife90]

The age limit would not need to be raised if kids didn't think "Oh, it will never happen to me" and there for put specifics of their life on a Myspace or Xanga.
Personally, I would never put my phone number, last name, or address on any public online profile, its just stupid.

Also, parents should pay more attention to what is going on with their kids on the internet. Its really careless to just let a kid loose on the web. It could end up being worse than crack.

[anniepiee]

raising the age limit. like many others said: they can just lie to get their way into sites. and i also agree that kids all say, " Oh, im not stupid, it will never happen to me." but they're wrong. any small detail on any website could attract an online predator.

definitely, parents should always pay attention to what their kids are doing. but not watching over them 24/7. but keep an eye on what they're doing.

[cfaye3char]

I agree with everybody here.....the internet is dangerous, my computer is in a public place in the house so my moms can check on me.....I don't mind....like alot of people said here, the parents should teach the kids right from wrong....in all ways of life.....people will hurt you badly

[mai_z]

I think a person should have to be of legal age to post an actual personal, but no matter what, there's not much way to enforce that. In terms of parents monitoring, as long as the children are dependants, they have an element of control over them, so it's really up to the parents to decide how they want to 'monitor' their children, or how much freedom they want to give.

[Heathasm]

Monitoring doesn't necessarily have to entail surreptitious monitoring; it can be as simple as having a computer in a "public" location in the home, and the parent periodically monitoring a child's activities online. Trust isn't inherent; it must be earned. I'm not saying a parent should constantly read over her child's shoulder, but a child should also not assume that he should have unlimited privacy while online.

i agreeee. me and my brother had a computer room that was attached to the kitchen so our parents were always kind of watching over us when we were young and we were never alone on the comp most of the time. like i said before when mya unt asked my dad what to do about her being on the computer...i told her to take it out of her room and she will be online less and etc

[*AngelicEyz00*]

1. No

2. No

I think myspace's 16 years or older rule is fine. I'd even say 14 would be okay too. And I don't think it's necessary for parents to have more control over their children's internet access... I'd feel hella violated and pissed.

[Heewee]

I think that every parent should use their own discretion. It's basically the same thing as letting their child go to the park alone in the dark....you just don't let your child go do whatever they want to do online until they are a certain age. Enough said. But to a certain extent, you also should have an agreement with your child that they aren't going to abuse their online priveledges. I don't think that there should be any formal standards set. What it is now is fine.

[TheReasonWhy]

1.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised?

well they can't do anything i guess. if they really want to join it, they could lie to it and no one would know....just like me, i have a friendster account but i am only 13 cause i lied to it and i don't even use it....

2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?

nah. they would always find a way. i am a best example

[LEGITERICJONES]

QUESTIONS TO GET STARTED:
1.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised?

No because people lie, plus the pressure from neighboring peers and humans will most likely cuase them to "check out" the stuff to. People would probably lie anyway, only some parents would care and check for them in the first place.
2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?

Yes they should 100%. Sadly thats only reality in some households.

[Eryi]

QUESTIONS TO GET STARTED:
1.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised?

2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?

*Fell free to add anymore thoughts you have, beyond the two questions.

1) No.
2) Maybe to some, younger than me.

[KissMe2408]

.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised? Well, no matter how high it is raised, kids will lie about their age to just get on the site, ya know? I mean that's what everyone does for myspace and everything.

2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?I don't think parents should go overboard in the controls...but just monitor what they are doing online.

[BrokenDream]

question #1:
no. I mean, everyone deserves to be online. even if they have no clue what they are doing. that's just the facts. freedom of the internet (except giving viruses away, and being againist the laws)

question #2:
they shouldn't stalk them. just see what websites they go on from time to time. and if the parents see a website that are not okay for their children, the parents will take if from there. block the website, and DONE. simple as that.


Melissa

[*mzkandi*]

1.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised?

I believe so, but its not as if most sites dont that already, because they do. Kids simply will lie about their age making it a very hard problem to solve.

2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?

When I kids, I will. They can complain about not having enough privacy all the want but its for their own good, and I will simply remind them of who pays the bills.

[Retrogressive]

Personally, I'm more concerned with my rights as a personal citizien for privacy. If parents can't teach their children judgement and reason it's out of my hands.

[CrimsonSkyGraphi...]

Hmn. Well, I've been online since I was like 11. Granted, the first..two years I spent at sites like Barbie.com. >_> (Dont make fun of me. It was all new to me, and I'm a child at heart. XD)

By the time I was near 13 though, I'd found my way into chat rooms. My mom new, but she also trusted me and left me to do my thing. <.< Now, I'm not going to claim to have been a good little girl all these years. Gawd knows I haven't. But I was never 'stupid', either. I've gotten myself into a few messes with online bfs (including the one I have now, who my mom has banned me from talking to after 3 years of doign so..-_-..Yay @ being almost 18) . But, I've also been homeschooled..so I didnt have the chance to get into the relationship messes 'offline'. o_O Personally..As long as your kids are schooled to 'not' meet the person without parental permission and what not, I dont think it's a problem. <.<; Oh. And yeah..maybe worry about allowing the kid to have a webcam. I mean..If the kid wants to check out some porn sites underage..Firstly, if they're searching on 'purpose'..They're curious, and in my opinion..It's damn safer to be checking out porn than to be going ot experiment with a guy in real life, no? No disease. No Pregnancy.

Yes, the internet has its major issues..and 'can' be a bad situation..But, if your kid 'is' mature enough, I'd suggest you dont watch their every move. They 'will' end up with the lack of trust and rebellion issues, as said before.

When I have kids, I'm planning on letting them on the net..Under controlled circumstances untill I think they're mature enough. Then they can do as t hey wish. As long as they dont break the law, or try to meet someoen without me knowing. o.o; I'll be totally supportive if they have an online bf/gf, too. Since I've been through it..it seems wrong for me to be against it. I'd just be happy they told me about it.

**Edit**
Almost forgot I wanted to point out something else. Sometimes a lesson takes someone 'doing' the mistake to learn from it. >_> This is why when a parent says something like "no, you cant do that because it'll be bad"..a lot of kids rebel. o_O How can a parent know better than me, right? <_< Lmao. Psh. Even though i understand why they know better, there's still some things I need to experience for myself. Incase you're wondering, I'm ranting a bit about the bf I've been banned to talk to (And still do, btw..just..not on the phone like she used to allow..-.-). To me..trying to control who your kid 'dates'..Is just that. 'Control'. Unless you have proof this guy is going to like murder your kid, I dont think you should try to stop them..just try to get involved so you'll be 'told' the details.

Okay. End rant now. >_>