Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:my kids are 14 and 18 and have both had phones since 7th grade or so. "Privacy" is a moving target IMO. I did/do not give 13/14yo a phone without agreements around their understanding that their privacy is not absolute, I can and will take a look from time to time, they need to let me know their password. Honestly I'm glad I did, both kids were in situations early on that were a bit over their heads in how to handle and I was able to help them manage it without directly telling them that I was aware of what was going on. If they balk at that - well - then I'm not paying for the thing so they both went along with it. By older teenage years when my first kid had showed me good judgment over time I backed off.
Yep this is the rule in our house and while there has been complaining they comply. It’s always harder to pull back the rope if you give them too much in the beginning. Both kids had to sign contracts (2 pages) that explicitly says we get to see the phone whenever we want and must know passwords etc. they make mistakes and the only way to know they make mistakes is to see their phone
Anonymous wrote:My teens do not have phones of their own. They have phones I let them use. I collect them during the school day and then again at night. They know I can view texts etc. I assume they don't tell their friends this because some of the texts we have seen are highly alarming. One prompted me to contact the parents ( a friend was contemplated suicide quite a bit) and I am so glad I saw it because my daughter did not even think to mention it.
Your kids will have plenty of privacy when they are adults. Now they need to learn what not to do and make mistakes while mom and dad can still help them correct it. Teens are not adults and should not have the freedoms of adults.
Anonymous wrote:Take the phone away
Anonymous wrote:Suspend her account so she knows you're not issuing idle threats. Then have a talk and let her know what is expected going forward. You can suspend accounts online in just a few minutes.