Password privacy Grover says he's okay with parents having their kids' digital passwords, but thinks it's important that they they're open about it. “Your child—especially in elementary or middle school—should know you have it, and that you're checking in occasionally. Kids will be more cautious that way,” he says.
Up until about 10 years of age, I strongly recommend knowing your kids' passwords. From about 10-14, I would suggest either insisting on knowing the passwords or asking your kids to place them in a sealed envelope in a nominated spot. If there is an online issue or problem, you can then access it.
Giving up your passcode is minor. To be honest, if you're not doing anything bad or questionable, and you don't trust your parents enough to let them in, then you probably want to have a heart-to-heart with them. If you are doing questionable stuff, then do a better job hiding it, and give them the passcode.
“It's important for parents to be clear on their intentions before going through their child's phone—it's one thing to be on the lookout for potential risk factors, and quite another to seek out your child's secrets through confidential texts with friends,” Dr. Pierce adds.
Just because you are able to supervise and track your child on the Internet doesn't mean you should. As a wise and respectful parent, you should not browse their social media accounts, read their text messages or emails, use child tracking devices, or track their cell phone, track your child's text messages or calls.
By age six, most kids understand the concept of privacy, and may start asking for modesty at home. Here's what you can do to honour your child's privacy. Be supportive A child's demand for privacy signals their increasing independence, says Sandy Riley, a child and adolescent therapist in Toronto.
Apart from that, parents who share information about their children online are also a cyber-security risk because they can easily be geo-located. She reveals that many parents know sharenting may have negative implications on their children's privacy, yet they go on to share information online.
Parents: There's no absolute right answer as to whether it's okay to read your kid's text messages. It depends on your kid's age, personality and behavior. The most important thing is that you discuss responsible texting behavior.
Overall, parents should be able to trust their kid enough to not look through their phones. This will also maintain trust and a healthy relationship. If there is heavy evidence that there is something that should be investigated, then it's okay, but if not… teens should have some privacy.
The majority, 31%, say age 18 for sure. But there's also 17% who say they'll stop at age 16. There's no blanket perfect age, however. In some homes, you can trust an 8-year-old; in others you may still want or need parental controls active for much longer.
It's 100 percent your right to check their devices,” said Bill Wiltse, President of Child Rescue Coalition. Child predators want to invade children's lives, an abuse that they may never recover from. The horrific truth is that some children are driven to suicide having suffered online abuse.
The phone plan is probably in your name and you probably bought the electronic devices. But even if not, you have every right and responsibility to check them if you've been given cause to do so because you have the right and obligation to keep your home safe, your child safe, and your other children safe.
As a general rule, don't share your password with other people. If you must share it, make sure that you trust the person to whom you are giving access to your accounts.
As your child gets older, they need more privacy and personal space. This is because your child is exploring new ideas, emotions and social interests. Your child is also working out what kind of person they are or want to be. It's natural for your child to keep ideas and information to themselves as they do this.
Keeping secrets can create a false sense of reality.
Secrets' impact on children can be profound, regardless of their age. Parents who habitually keep secrets from their children should keep in mind the possibility that such behavior could very well be repeated in future generations.
It is unhealthy, and could potentially become abuse. Even though many people think of abuse as physical violence, it can actually be any pattern of behavior designed to gain power and control in a relationship. Insisting on having a partner's passwords is actually a red flag for abuse.
Yousuf said pediatricians generally recommend the following guidelines: Under 2 years old: Zero screen time, except for video chatting with family or friends. 2-5 years old: No more than one hour per day co-viewing with a parent or sibling. 5-17 years old: Generally no more than two hours per day, except for homework.
What is the ideal age for a first phone? Your children could be ready for a smartphone or similar device anywhere from 10 to 14, or during middle school. A sixth-grader (typically 10 to 11 years old) could be a good start for considering a phone or a wearable.
It's this nightly production of melatonin that enables us to fall asleep. The bottom line: When parents take away teens' cell phones at night, they're helping to ensure this natural sleep process can occur, so their teenager can get a decent's night rest.
Teenagers, however, believe that about 90 percent of their peers are sexting. This is an indicator that among teens, the behavior is considered normal, which has led to an increase in sexting behavior among this age group.
In fact, a 2021 study found one in three Americans over 65 prefer texting to phone calls. Seniors reported they enjoy texting, using emojis, and social media as much as their grandkids, viewing these activities as a great way to bond with the younger generations.
Threatening to take away your teen's phone may seem like a great way to get them to do something. But it's usually not a good choice as a punishment. When you take away their phone, you're turning off the television, banning games, taking away their ability to talk with friends, and grounding them all at once.
One such type is parentification trauma, which occurs when children are forced to take on adult roles sooner than is appropriate for their developmental level.
Risks of Using Social Media
Parents should be conscious of the risks of youth using social media. These are further discussed below. Risks include being subject to cyberbullying and online harassment, placing inappropriate content online, Facebook depression, and decreased sleep.
Your parents might be worried about social media becoming a big distraction that takes time away from your family or your schoolwork. They might be worried about cyber-bullying, and that's no joke! Kids deal with serious depression over things like who un-friended them or posted secrets about them for everyone to see.