Should parents / guardians monitor children's internet usage?

[Unicorn]

Judging from the recent activity, some very immature people have constant unmonitored access to the internet. This brings up a very interesting question:

Should parents or guardians monitor children's internet usage?

As a child (well, in my parent's eyes I'm still a kid), would you appreciate being monitored when using the internet (either after a good explanation, or after a curt "because I say so")?

Scenario: when there is proof that in a certain household, there are children below a certain age. Should rules (such as installation of ChildSafe programs) be in place to restrict or block access to harmful / gross sites?

I do know that China completely blocks access to certain websites, in your opinion is that going too far or is such a thing good for her people?

Please feel free to bring up any relevant points that I missed. Discuss away! :cool:

[Shinrin]

I'd say yes till they're~ 10-12 years old.
Once they get to that age they should stop and insted give them things to do(best would be something that ain't feeling like slave work)
THat way they can be all they want at the net, but they have stuff to do which would make for less online time.
Else just say X amount of time is fine if you want more you'll have to do something in turn.(or the usual start paying for your own El)

[Zelos]

well, i guess ill have to say no about there being some age restriction. heck, ive met 30 year olds who probably shouldnt be allowed online >.< so i dont think age matters as much as maturity and responsibility, two things that cant really be measured. if a parent doesnt think their kid is mature enough to handle being online, then perhaps it should be monitored >_> case-by-case, though. ive met 12 year olds online who are just fine and dont need to be monitored, but ive also met 12 year olds who probably should be monitored more closely :/ like this one kid on DA who was also 12 and all the pictures they had favorited were naked women. but hey, not much you can do about irresponsible parents :/ if a parent just doesnt care, then not much good restrictions will really do.

i have met quite a few kids online who probably would have been better off not being in online communities because they just dont understand whats going on sometimes. then people start making fun of them, but they never seem to know it -.- and if they ever did figure out that they were being made fun of, then everyone would be accused of being a bully or whatever. a lot of these kids set themselves up for ridicule and have taken things extremely personally. one even admitted to crying because of something that was said (it wasnt even something offensive... just a comment about hunting in a thread about hunting) and then they made a huge deal about it in the thread, causing it to go way off topic :/ and i keep seeing this in online communities and forums from kids who are under 13 or 14 years of age. its really annoying all because they dont have enough understanding of whats going on, then they accuse the older members of the community "mean" and cause a scene.

meanwhile, theres 11 year olds who are a-okay, though they are the minority. the kids who are responsible shouldnt be penalized all because of the ones who are annoying and mess things up :/ so i dont think there should be an age restriction.

ive veered off topic -.-

if a parent feels they need to monitor their kid's internet usage, then they have full right to decide to do that. when they turn 18, though, they become a legal adult so at that point, the parents shouldnt really care anymore.

[ezxx]

lol dumb *** forum invaders shouldn't be the reason for parents overseeing what kids do, pedos and other criminals should be.

If below 13, highest possible supervision
if between 13-15, minimum to midrange supervision depending on the type of kid one has

16+ should be just fine without any parental observation.

Watch the swears please.

- FH

[negativzero]

There are certain things that have to be acknowledged here first IMHO.

1- The internet CAN and has for a long time been used as a tool of vices and illegal activity.
2- Parents have a right to know what their little kids are doing, be it going out shopping, meeting friends, or even using the internet. I do believe that it is lack of communication that bad kids turn up in families. I'm a firm believer of that.

So anyways, yes! I do believe that up till a certain age, kids should be monitored in their internet usage and that they should be aware of their kids surfing activities up till 13 when they are old enough to know about the birds and the bees.
Beyond this age, I do think that it is impossible for a parent to sit down with a child and look at what he surfs. Knowing that the child is already grown up a little and that he/she should wish for their own privacy. At this stage, parents should facilitate more communication such thatthey are aware of their kids everyday life, and to always ensure they are socially and morally responsible for their actions.

Oh well, that it from me for now, I'll post more when I see replies X__X

[Rain]

I think parents should if they can, but past a certain age (15 or 16) they won't be able to.

[Who]

Maybe because I've been on the internet myself since I was 7, I don't see it as that big a deal. I also think that most of you think the age for being online by yourself is a bit late. I just turned 16 myself, and I know I've been able to handle using the internet for a while now. I'd say somewhere in the 13-14 range is more the appropriate age, but it all depends on the kid/the parents trust in them.

[emoloz]

Yes til about 13 at least. I think that they need to be monitored sometimes like if there going more on search engines because you never know what you can click on really and when your 13 your all hyper and just click for clickings sake so you could end up on any illegal site or end up with 10 billion viruses. Thought i think if a child and parent sit down and learn together the ways of the net then i think its ok. I am 17 and i am allowed to do what i like on the net because i know the rights and wrongs and the in's and outs of a PC well and i know all the risks of the internet and am even trusted with my own laptop so.

I think if your wosed up its fine i have been trusted with the net since i was like 10. I have never got any serious viruses or anything and i wouldn't do anything stupid because i was taught properly how to use the net. Theres nothing wrong if your taught but familys these days can't be bothered and just leave there kids with the net as their tired from work.

[Frosted Heart]

Well, kids are getting on the net younger and younger it seems. @_@ If I were a parent I would definitely use site blockers and monitor my kid's internet activity (since I know how 'questionable' some content can be).

But of course I'd also teach them some safe internet rules, like never give out personal information, don't meet anyone IRL from the internet (well, till you're sure they're legit) etc.

Common sense is the best weapon out there, and besides, after a certain age (14 or so, but knowing me, probably older than that ;)) a parent has to let them have some freedom.

Edit: I wouldn't be surprised to learn if the current trolls are actually in their late teens or older. Some people just shouldn't have internet access, period. :p

[Pollux]

16+ should be just fine without any parental observation.
I agree with people over 16 being fine but unfortunately, there are exceptions.
I won't give too much details because it's really disgusting (IMHO) but few days ago, in France, a 16 years old girl wanted to meet a 19 years old boy she had fallen in love with on the internet by chatting with him and, when she eventually met him, she discovered that he was actually more than twice older than her and was not interested in a love story with the girl, if you see what I mean.

I have also seen many people (despite being older than 16) with computers infected by many viruses, claiming that they didn't understand because they had an antivirus (However, the said antivirus was more than one year old) or clicking on every ads they saw because it was written "you have a new message, click here to read it" or "you've won 1000 euros".

Actually, I don't think you can really control internet for people under a precise age, it might vary depending on whether these people are truly aware of the risks they incur or not and if they act accordingly. Site blockers might be a good thing though.

[LiquidTheBrit]

I side with some of the others here in saying that it really depends on the kid.

I started going on forums when I was nine, but it was probably too early for me then. (And after my father found out which forum, I got a stern talking-to about not hiding things from my parents. Lesson learned XD;)

Honestly, I think that they should stop monitoring at around 13, since this seems to be the point where kids want privacy. (I, for one, lock my door for no reason at all. Can't stand having it unlocked.) Although, internet safety rules (and how to act on the net in such a way as to not become flame bait) should be taught a bit before that. But as many have said, it really depends on who it is going on the net. I feel that the parent should know their child well enough to know whether or not they're 'ready' for the terrible place that is the internet.

And as for the trolls, think they're pretty much gone now, except the one.

[Shinrin]

Another thing Parents should restrict is what the Phones there kids got can do or if the kids should even have em in the first place.

It's redicolous that 4-5 year old children got there own cellphones.

[Zelos]

i have a friend who isnt allowed online at all and hes 18... im 100% sure hes mature enough to go online and be responsible :/ but his parents are overprotective that way...

hes looking forward to moving out this fall >.< no rules! 8D lol

[spacecat]

For really young kids yeah but forum raiders are probably older than you may think Uni : / Just cos it is immature and stupid doesn't mean it's really young kids, I'd say more like 16 and up at least. And I'd hate my mum standing over my shoulder or watching what i did online anyways >_> I don't do anything wrong so I'd just feel it was an invasion of privacy.

[Shannon]

Well, I think that it depends on the kid's attitude and his/her age. If the kid is really immature, or really young, I'd think that the parents should monitor. Like, I know of this 9 year old girl who has a myspace, and I really do think that the parents should monitor that closely, since the internet can be a dangerous place.

[Unicorn]

Shannon, thanks for bringing MySpace and similar websites like that into discussion. I forgot about them.

Personally, I dislike being monitored when I surf the internet or chat online. I feel that it's an invasion of my privacy.

I agree with .nez| that parents should sit down with their children and instill responsible internet usage behaviour before deciding if further supervision is needed. Installation of ChildSafe programs that block out 'blacklisted' sites are good, however I know that this method isn't entirely foolproof.

My parents kinda trusted me with internet surfing since they know what my interests are, and what my friends' interests are, and pretty much approved them influencing me. :D

[Agmaster]

Yes. If only to give them a proper gauge of shame when they flip over porno sites. And that whole safety thing from predators. And (if they are not as savvy as the parent) to keep crap off the machine.

[benihime_taicho]

It should be up to the parents to moniter their children period. I probably wouldn't have been pleased when I was a kid(and wasn't when it came down to it) but ultimately it is the parents responsibility and no-one else's...

Overall parents need to be more responsible with their children. Things are getting out of control... YOu don't want your kid to go to a certain site? Block it. Plain and simple. It shouldn't be left on the government. You shouldn't be able to hold a website responsible when they have clearly posted the age restrictions or intended audiences. PARENTS NEED TO ACTUALLY PARENT THEIR CHILDREN!!! That seems to have been forgotten somewhere along the way.

[Evility]

It depends on the kid.
If the kid is accountable, then I think he/she doens't need monitirong at all. Still, the internet is a whole new world and it's easy for many people to get confused. It's all about how you trust your kid then :b

It's hard for me to say since I'm free like a bird from the very beggining when I met the computer and the internet [I was 10] and I really get pissed off when my parent try to stand over my shoulder, watching everything I do // pot in forums // other stuff. It's a shameful act of disturbing my own private space.

Besides, I don't think they will be very happy if they find out about my little obsession with shounen-ai // yaoi since they're both such a homophobes [sp?] ._.

[Abarai Madara]

I would hate to be a 13-14 year old with computer restrictions.

This is a deadly serious post btw.

Edited out the irrelevant spammage. ~ Unicorn

i have a friend who isnt allowed online at all and hes 18... im 100% sure hes mature enough to go online and be responsible :/ but his parents are overprotective that way...

hes looking forward to moving out this fall >.< no rules! 8D lol

No offence to your friend ... but that is f****** ridiculous.

18 and not even allowed on the internet ... That's going to cause problems when he moves away.

Imagine not being able to do the slightest things such as that .. I presume he isn't allowed to drink etc too.

Those are the sort of people who go completley off the rails once they get the freedom with no supervision from their parents.

[Jhaxe]

I suppose it depends on the situation of exactly what 'monitoring' means. I can see keeping younger children away from pornography and x-rated materials that are definitely unsuitable for them, but I mean, barring too many things away from them will cause adverse effects.

Such as trying to keep a pre-teen to teenager away from sites with swearing. Once a child reaches 13, swearing is considered suitable for their level of maturity, but some parents don't see it that way. They believe that instead of letting their child see the world for what it really is, that keeping them away from it is healthier, which is untrue. Growing children need to be gradually exposed to world around them, so that they can gain maturity at their own pace.

However, in the case of 'monitoring' a child's internet usage, it really depends on the parent to whether that is a good or bad thing. My parents for example (more so my overprotective father) should NOT be allowed to monitor my internet usage. I've been more than mature enough to handle swearing, sexual innuendo and older-teen scenarios for quite a few years, but he doesn't see it that way. So, I make sure they don't have any chance to monitor me, lest I be barred from my life the internet.

In cases like that, I don't believe it fair to have a parent forbidding a child who is mature enough to handle those situations from surfing the internet freely. A parent should look at their child first and be able to tell how mature they are, and thus, allow them to do whatever is in their level of maturity. But, sometimes it doesn't work that way.

Another thing is, there is no age where one gains a certain level of maturity, therefore trying to set up 'monitoring' based on a child's age is unfair. While 'life is unfair' may be true, this in turn may actually harm the child more than helping them. Therefore I don't believe that children should be monitored on their internet usage until a 'certain age,' but rather a parent should observe their child first and foremost, until they understand how mature their child is, and then decide properly what to monitor or bar them from from that point.

In the case of a country barring certain websites? Well, that's definitely taking it overboard. Then again, China banned 'Death Note' because they believed that the children altering notebooks to look like Death Notes as jokes were going to be negatively influenced...but that's just China. I really don't think the government should take up responsibilities that are best left to the people.

[TheItalianStallion]

If my mama wants to watch me online i would let her. She would be bored out of her mind in ten minutes. Seriously if a kid wants to look at pr0n then he doesn't need the internet. School is the perfect place to find pr0n. ;)