Should We Track Teens Online?

Technology today is simply amazing. The areas in which we have access through only our computers is overwhelming. I?m only 36 years old, but I can remember when writing a paper meant going to the library and then plugging away on a typewriter. My parents were my spell-checker. Now all this is done from the comfort of home. Our children can sit at the computer and do research, type papers and find out all kids of information. Do we really know what they are doing when they are on the computer?

There is a more troubling side to all this technology. Although ?bad influences? on our children have always existed, the easy at which predators can contact our children is frightening. As the step-mother of a teenage girl, I have to say that the thought of being able to track teens online is very appealing to me. But should we track teens online?

My stepdaughter is a great person. She gets excellent grades and causes very little trouble. She follows the rules ( or at least doesn?t get caught breaking them). She is however only 17 years old. I worry about her less now then in previous years, but the worry is still there. Our teenagers believe that they know everything. This isn?t new, but the dangers of making small lapses in judgements have become much more severe. Strangers can contact her anonymously online and pretend to be someone her own age when they could be a 50 year old possible rapist or drug dealer. To track teens online may seem to be taking protecting our kids to an extreme, but is it really? The predators have the technology to find our kids and tempt them into behaviors they might not otherwise engage in. If the technology exists for us to truly know what our teen is doing online, shouldn?t we take advantage of it? Track teens online? I say yes.

I do believe that information is power. Of course to track teens online and get ?good? information, they can?t be aware you are doing it. You also need to be careful what you do with the information you receive. Just straight facts without the benefit of your teens interpretation can be dangerously misread. That is the biggest detraction to track teens online. Something quite innocent can seem quite dangerous without knowing the context. To track teens online can also break what could be already fragile trust between teen and parent.

We need to trust our children. We also need to verify. Teens want to be grown-ups and make their own decisions. But there are reasons why we don?t send 15 year old out into the world to fend for themselves. They aren?t ready. So, to track teens online, you need to decide that it is a tool in making sure your child is not making a decision that could cause him/her harm. You also need to realize that it?s a grey line between protecting your child and invading their privacy. I don?t believe that teens have an absolute right to privacy - at least not while they are living in my house, but I do believe that we as parents don?t need to know everything. We just need to make sure they are safe and not making foolish decisions. I believe that to track teens online is good. It can give worried parents peace of mind, or the facts they need to help their child.

The ability to track teens online is just one more weapon in assuring that our teens are safe. Not everyone will agree that it is necessary but I believe that you are better safe then sorry and if you track teens online, you can get good information to keep them safe.

Jennie crawford is the stay at home mom of two small children and one teenage stepdaughter. For more information on online security for your child or teen, go to http://www.jenniecrawford.com/pctattletale

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