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Spying On Teenager's Computer Use

There are many options to check up on kids' computer time. Read below for one easy option that is free and produces instant results.

The Issue

Parents must be vigilant about knowing what their children are doing online. There are many ways to prevent their children from viewing inappropriate Internet addresses when they are online. Each option has its strengths and its weaknesses, but there is one way that stands out above all the others for maximum effectiveness.

For adults who throw up their hands and say it is too difficult to keep track of what their children are doing online, I have a comparison that they should pay attention to Would they have a similar reaction if the discussion was about playing with matches on the living room rug? Then why is the topic of World Wide Web usage any different?

Age Warning Pages

Age warnings or age verification checks on websites cover the site owner from a legal standpoint for blocking from visiting those who are not old enough to view the content. Of course, from a kid's viewpoint, those measures only make the website more appealing and they no doubt check off the age box in whatever way will let them into the site.

Parental Locks

Leading search engines and many Internet service providers have "parental locks" just like the V-Chip on TV's. The purpose of these is to block access to sites that have non-parent approved content. Parents can set up search engine start to only provide acceptable results. There are usually degrees of "safety" that you can choose.

Parents also spend money on filtering programs such as Norton Internet Security, K9 Web Protection, CyberSitter, and other similar products. While filtering is probably reasonably effective, Internet filtering programs has its quirks too. The usual example is that the filters block viewing of medical or medical related information such as thoat belonging to various breast cancer foundations because those sites refer to anatomy.

The Stealth Solution

Stepping it up a bit technology wise, there are computer programs called keyloggers. Keyloggers record what has been input on a keyboard and can retrieve that information. Essentially, keyloggers are allowing someone} to find out what has been typed on a keyboard after the fact. I should also mention programs that can record everything that takes place on a computer including, IM discussions, e-mail messages, e-mails, email conversations sent and received, pictures saved, and IP addresses visited. Some software even allows parents to put in place a system to alert when a violation occurs such as a teenager visiting a IP address that a parent or guardian has instructed him or her not to visit.

Any or all of the above methods may contribute to a parent's overall plan to protect his or her children from the dangers of the modern online world, but there is still one more method that every parent should put into use immediately.

Your Best Bet

The best solution is absolutely the most obvious one, which means that is easily overlooked. Here it is in one sentence; it encourages family togetherness and it costs nothing. Ready? Put the PC right in the middle of the living room!

Would you like a little while to get over the shock of this suggestion? I warned you that the brilliance would be in the simplicity. Undoubetdly you can imagine the look of astonishment on your son's face and the screams of protest from your daughter that you are ruining her life and totally invading her privacy with this act of parental treason. You will have to put a stop to the arguments that your kid's friend's parents let them have their computer access in their own bedrooms.

Appropriate parenting techniques should never be based on the neighbors and the rules they set for their kids unless they happen to be exemplary role models as parents. If that is the case, I can practically guarantee that your their kids won’t be begging you to copy their parenting methods.

Parents, stay strong and don't be afraid to get that computer front and center in the parlor immediately and you will never again have to wonder what your kids post on their MySpace pages and with whom they are chatting over an instant messenger service.