Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance

[Rainbow Dash]

I don't know why I watch these shows as I don't have children I don't always agree with Jo Frost (once she said parents should know their teenager's Facebook/Myspace password and spy on them) but most of the time I think she's right.

http://www.youtube.com/show/extremeparentalguidance?s=2

You can watch all the episodes free (legally) on youtube I'm pretty sure you have to be in UK though.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

Spying on your child's facebook is a dumb thing to do! Way to get them to trust you. >.>
Checking up on them and asking them to show you, letting them know they can tell you things, making sure they aren't going on sites you don't want them to, that all makes sense, but spying is just a stupid idea. And I normally like that woman.

[Rainbow Dash]

Exactly >.> All I would do is tell them about online safety and trust them If my mum and dad knew my password I would have probably made another Facebook/Myspace account without them knowing.

[Kate*]

I see why she would say that, if you're posting something online where a lot, if not anyone can read it, then theoretically you shouldn't be posting something that you would have a problem with them seeing.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

Originally Posted by Kate*

I see why she would say that, if you're posting something online where a lot, if not anyone can read it, then theoretically you shouldn't be posting something that you would have a problem with them seeing.

It's more the idea that the parent would be spying on the child, not that the parent would be knowing what the child is posting. I think parents and children should try to be open with each other about things, particularly when it concerns internet safety/anything else just as important. They should be communicating, not spying.

[Kate*]

Just because they would have the passwords doesn't mean that they would use them to spy, I think it's more the idea that the kid should be careful because the parent could look if they wanted to, not because they will.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

If I was the kid, I would stop trusting my parents. It doesn't sound like it's good for a healthy relationship between kid and parent.
Also, you have to be thirteen to be on facebook, and at that point you're a teenager. You're learning about responsibilities, and having the password known by your parent takes that away. If the child wanted the parent to have it, then fair enough, but I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with my parents having access to my account controls. Not so much seeing what I posted, but having the power to access, post and delete things without me knowing.

[Kate*]

and as a parent I don't know if I could trust my teenager (like 13) having an account without me knowing the password, I doubt I would ever use the power, but it's a parent's job to monitor what their kids do online or otherwise.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

I just think, particularly after seeing how secretive my sister is about her facebook, that the child would be very likely to make a second account and use that instead, and that constant communication with the child about what they are doing would be more productive. If the child thinks you are snooping and spying on them behind their back then they would be less likely to trust you.

[Kate*]

If they don't want you to know what they're doing and they're going to take measures to hide it from you, why would they be more willing to tell you anything if you ask?

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

Because you're not snooping without their permission. You're giving them some space, and then making sure they're ok, and making conversation about their friends and who said what ect. and communicating, instead of checking out what they're doing without them knowing.

[Kate*]

Having the password doesn't mean that you wouldn't have to check things behind their back, you could always say 'I want your password and I'm going to check once a month" or something like that, or just randomly tell them I want to see your accounts now.

[Gymnophoria]

I have to say, giving my mum/dad access to my facebook account, TH account, or blog, would be a death wish.
My mum is friends with me on facebook so she can check up on me if she likes. But she doesn't know how much stuff I've blocked from her.

[Rainbow Dash]

I agree with Hester, a parent should trust their child enough to know they won't be doing anything stupid online. As long as you tell them exactly what's right and wrong online you should trust them to follow your rules.

My parents spying over conversations I'm having with my friends online is the same as them spying over conversations I have with my friends in real life.