I Spy A Kid On LAN!

This week, I m gonna tell you a mum's strategy on her children using net.
Of'coz this article is from some Parenting Site. (I check regularly so that I can stay ahead of adults!)
Ok, Let's start then...


5 Reasons I spy on my kid (and you should too)


My 11 year old daughter has
taken to video chatting and im’ing with a vengeance What used
to be occasional online missives shared among a few friends on her
buddy list has turned into multi-modal madness. Her
computer screen is a collage of tween faces, rainbow colored text
bubbles and a chorus of shrill voices all vying for her
attention.

Recognizing the increase in these activities as the cyber
equivalent of puberty, I knew it was time to have "the
talk" - the tech talk that is. We sat down one night
and covered the basic "birds and bees" business
regarding the computer - limiting screen time, installing the
uber-strict net nanny filter, warnings to not to talk to
strangers. And then I casually threw out the fact that to
keep her safe I reserved the right to check in on her email account
and im history every now and then. She seemed OK with that,
but then shot me a look:

"What??? You're going to read my emails?
You're going to look at MY PRIVATE IMs I WRITE TO MY
FRIENDS?" Are you kidding
me...WHYYYYYY????!

Like many moms, I'm still wrestling with the privacy vs.
safety issue - wanting to give my kids space and foster their
independence but keep them protected from the myriad unknown and
potentially nefarious forces out there in cyberspace. I know
that checking her computer history isn't like reading her
diary, but honestly, at times I felt like it is (and despite
temptation, I don't want to be one of those moms!)

As a result of my ambivalence,
I didn't have a good answer for her. At least not a good
enough answer to convince either of us. So I called my go to
tech mom, Monica at The Online Mom (thank God for
friends with tech-xpertise) and she gave me the following
ammunition which I'm happy to report made an impression and I
recommend that you DO try at home:

1) The
internet environment is one with long lasting sometimes permanent
and always far reaching consequences – terms she’s just beginning
to understand – and until she’s 18 or so, she’ll still need
guidance not just on what she does, but on what others in her
playground do. (I equate this to a taxi driver – when he’s
going around full speed like a maniac and I ask him to slow down –
I always tell him that I know he’s an expert driver, but its the
others I am worried about)

2) When a kid
goes missing (when anyone goes missing actually) these days the
FIRST PLACE the FBI looks to is the person’s computer and they go
thru records, IM’s, emails etc. that believe it or not, I
have a lot more maturity – still – and I WILL be able to spot red
flags etc if I come across them, as far as strangers and even the
people that she knows.
3) The digital playground while she’s “under my roof” is
no different than the real one – that my no. 1 job is her safety
and that I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.


4) I do NOT HAVE
TIME to be looking at her stuff, but that if there is a behavior
change in her I WILL LOOK to see if there is anything going on that
is causing it.

5) The anonymity people think they have online
makes them act differently. I know this (hello truuconfessions.com !) but
she’s only 11 – she doesn’t know this.
Fess up: how are you dealing with your kids' online
activities? Keeping your distance or setting down ground
rules?
*For anything/everything you need to know about dealing with your
kids online - visit theonlinemom.com.


S's Note:

Spoiler:

S wrote:

S's Note:

Spoiler:

Thanks for sharing with us, S.Lost kid meeting an S? Ahem,and like what are you trying
to say? (I'm not going off yet).
Well, that way.I dunno if it's good or not.But until now my dad can't guess the password
to my gmail ^^ Though he won't find anything weird in there (right, S?).

Nothing.. nothing at all.

I doubt that after seeing your email, your father will think you are innocent. (Don't ask me)

same. though there is someone scary in my house, he doesn't need a password to get into a computer's admin, in to gmail (he used to that alot to my email, his wife and I wonder who else)

I don't really enjoy someone reading my mails for sure plus surely, I have brains to protect myself.