Being Monitored While Using Technology

The media provides us with a wide variety of entertainment, from social networking sites to chat rooms and from texting to sending videos online. But the number one concern of many parents and guardians is the danger that is exposed to the adolescents. Dangers on the Internet, through texting, etc. have affected a great number of kids and teens all over the world and the number never stops growing. To help resolve this problem, parents/guardians should monitor their child’s use of technology at all times in all areas to help keep them safe and away from harm.

Admittedly parental guidance is needed, although the child’s privacy is invaded. Many of my peers have agreed to the fact that their privacy is not being respected. Many have also been saying that the real reason why they do not want their parents snooping around reading their messages on their phones or online is that they are trying to hide personal things from them. This arouses a non-trusting relationship between the guardian and the child. Furthermore, kids may think that being monitored is a bad idea, however they shouldn't be worried about it if they haven't done anything wrong and so, you should not have a problem with having people look at your profile or text messages. There are those teens that also say that there shouldn’t be a reason for parents checking in on them because they are not doing anything that could harm them or someone else. They feel as if their parents are being overprotective and what not. Although, overtime as parents start to notice that you are being safe on the Internet, a trust bond will grow. Therefore encouraging them to lay off on the overprotective parenting.

Approximately 42% of kids have been cyber-bullied while being online. One in every four has had it happen to them more than once. And the things that have been said to them do not only cause hurt feelings and tears. Cyber-bullying has led to big, serious situations such as suicide. Pornography and sexual predators have also been a great issue leading to horrible things such as early teen pregnancy. While cyber-bullying, pornography, and sexual predators are one of the biggest concerns out there, they may not be the only ones. Other dangers include areas that foster hate crimes, sites that teach children how to make harmful weapons, forums discussing way to commit suicide, sites encouraging people to take drugs, and videos that show people actually taking drugs. Apparently the Internet opens doors of danger to the youth, therefore parental guidance helps keep children safe from exploring sites that can harm them. The initial duty of a parent is to protect and keep his/her child out of danger. Not monitoring their child while using technology can greatly put their child in a difficult situation.

Statistics show that 58% of kids who have been cyber bullied have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online. It is very important for a minor to tell their parent/guardian when something like this happens because it is almost 100% guaranteed that it would not happen again. If the parent fails to take action, taking the situation to a trusted adult or straight to the police would be good alternative solutions.

Parents will always be there to see if there has been someone harassing you and they will most likely do something about it. Unless you want to be in the “danger-zone”, have a trusted adult to be with you while using technology. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
-----------------------------

Bibliography
-Statistics on Cyberbullying
http://isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=op⊂_id=media_cyber_bullying
-Privacy being invaded
http://www.parentingadolescents.com/assert-self.html
-Statistics+Reasons why Parental Guidance is good
http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Cyberbullying---A-Dangerous-Trend/139711
-Opinions from others
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080411140912AAeRWLE
-If you're being safe, you've got nothing to worry about...
http://isafesoft.com/blog/internet-dangers-and-how-to-keep-your-kids-for-staying-safe.html)