Doing Research Could Use Some Help?

I agree with it. I have two children and they are both fully aware of the dangers of talking both online and offline to strangers. They know never to give out any personal details such as birthdays, location or age, and they have never expressed a desire to meet anyone they don’t know. I don’t need to stand over their shoulders while they are online because I know they are aware of potential dangers

Congratulations! You are asking the million dollar question. I am a parent of five. Four boys and a girl. My two oldest are 16(m) and 14(f). Having allowed them on the internet in the last year, I agree with your hypothesis, but diligence must be part of it.

I started monitoring my children closely in the beginning. After months of establishing what was acceptable viewing in our household, for the internet, I made the mistake of trusting them to do the right thing. Instilling these ideals in our children works to a point. It is when they digitally congregate with children outside these moral convictions that problems start. Peer pressure is a hard notion that children have problems resisting. While not specifically divulging any instances, I have had to erase my daughters “myspace” pages on two occasions. My son faired a little better but has had momentary lapses of judgement, also. In my opinion, an electronic nanny is the best answer. You won’t always be there to monitor, but programs are available that block and record internet communications…

II agree. If parents monitor their children’s Internet activities, the children are less likely to 1) go to porn sites, 2) make mistakes in their Internet use, because the monitoring process will naturally include some discussion of what is safe to say & not to say on the Internet, and 3) the child will feel more comfortable approaching the parent about any interactions that concern or frighten them, if they happen, even when the parent is not present, due to their computer-related positive interactions together.

I agree.

We have three boys, now ages 24, 22, 18.

Our family computer was always in the family room off of the kitchen, not in a private area like their bedroom. We felt that just monitoring when they were on and what sorts of things they were into was important. At different times they were into Sims, and different games, chatting with friends, etc. We never made a big deal about looking over their shoulder but they knew a parent was likely to be a few steps away a lot of the time. Plus having one family computer meant that they also monitored each other quite a bit, if one was totally monopolizing it for hours someone would complain.

If parent abdicate the responsibility to keep an eye on their kids on-line habits it is about the same as if you let them play in the street without caring.

A key to good parenting is not really to prevent every problem but at least to be aware of what the problems are.

3. Do not agree or disagree…

Parents monitoring their childs’ activities will not keep them SAFE, but it may keep them safer. Children will at least have a degree of respect for their parents, as they are fully aware that they are being monitored; however….

If children insist on engaging in activity that puts them at risk, they WILL find a way. The constant monitoring may produce the effect opposite its desired outcome: rebellion on the part of the children. Needless to say, this may lead them down the wrong path of self-destruction. This may occur in the case of children seeking older men or women or even friends their own age who like them, seek only to enrage their parents by engaging in self-destructive behavior. bla bla bla.

Good luck on your paper.

I agree with you, because I have two children and I do not let them on the Internet alone. They have access to too much porn and other disgusting things.

2 disagree