Do you read your teen's text messages?

[Anonymous]

I think I saw that same pic above... pretty bad

[Anonymous]

Yes, and I wish that other parents would. I don't say anything if it is "inappropriate," but I will definitely talk about things that will either get a kid into trouble (e.g., sending a nude photo) or that indicates that a kid is in trouble (i.e., suicidal).

I have contacted parents more than once for both examples of the above. In both cases, the parents were completed shocked and grateful. Needless to say, they now monitor their kids' texts and other online activity.

[Anonymous]

I do with my 11 year old. She gets that it is a huge treat for her to have a phone. I allowed the phone because it helped with life logistics. She doesn't complain.

[Anonymous]

We would if our DD has a phone before age 16. Knowing that this was a requirement, she declined our offer to get her a phone under the rules and conditions we specified.

We will revisit the issue at any time she decides she is ready to accept the monitoring or when she starts driving and we think she should have a phone for safety reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't the kid just erase the texts? My oldest is 11 so this is new for me but I suspect she just erases texts she doesn't want me to see.
Also because mcps has all the kids using google, they seem like to use google hang outs to chat....is there a way to monitor that?

yes, theres a log of all chats if you log into someone's gmail account

[Anonymous]

For the two PPs (and anyone else) who knows that their child has a photo of a minor's erect penis on the child's phone, your child is in possession of child pornography and can be charged with a felony. And yes, kids absolutely do get charged with felonies for having naked pics on their phones.

[Anonymous]

I discovered that another girl had asked to play a game on DD's phone, but had sent text messages out to mutual friends, posing as DD. DD had no idea about the messages until I showed them to her. The messages were "joking" physical threats. DD is black, and the other kids are white. I do not know the kids or their parents personally. It was the kind of situation that can get really ugly really quickly. Luckily I discovered the messages the day they were sent, and DD was able to reach out and de-escalate quickly. Everyone knows the girl who sent the messages and completely believes DD.
These kids are 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old your teen?

Mine is 15. I do it about once a month. She knows and hates it. I hate it too actually.

Good parents do. Read Rosalind Wiseman.

[Anonymous]

I spot check my 14 year old's but not my 17 year old's anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do regularly with my 14DD. Worst I have found was a picture on a young boys erect penis.

That was a boy she knows sending her a dick pic?

[Anonymous]

Yes. He is 16. Fortunately it is boring for the most part.

[Anonymous]

DD is 12 and I absolutely do. She doesn't mind for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't the kid just erase the texts? My oldest is 11 so this is new for me but I suspect she just erases texts she doesn't want me to see.
Also because mcps has all the kids using google, they seem like to use google hang outs to chat....is there a way to monitor that?

yes, theres a log of all chats if you log into someone's gmail account

Huh? I don't have a gmail account, so how would you check my texts?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is 13. I do random checks. If she wants privacy she will need to talk on the phone.

[Anonymous]

Never, DD is 16.5. I trust her.