Children and the internet...

I don't have children, but I myself am still pretty young. My parents started letting me use the internet and generally didn't monitor what I looked at. They're threatened it at one point but didn't go through with it because they don't know how to use computers very well. Just trust your son, unless he gives you a reason not to do so! I know I'd be pretty angry if someone was snooping around in my internet history. It's not that I look at anything bad or things like that, but it's a bit of an invasion of privacy for the most part.

Well, eversince my kid learned how to use the computer and the internet, I've let him do his own surfing, reading and playing. In cases of negative stuff/adult crap posted online, I always remind him of the possible dangers that he can get from it. Also, when pop-ups or download reminders show up, I taught him to always X out of them. I just make sure I explain the pros and cons.

So far, he's never infected our network nor downloaded anything super harmful.=) Just trust your kids and educate them, sure enough, they'll be fine

*winks*

My kids are all still pretty young and I don't even allow them to mess with my computer. I think that I will allow it when they are a bit older and have shown me that they will act responsibly. Even then, I will monitor what they do until they are out of the house.

I think we must keep a close eye to our children and supervise them well when they are eon the internet.Indeed the internet is a rich source place for information and many more but it is also a place of harm and dangers nowadays.Anyway, there is a good program now that can help to limit the sites and dangerous sites on the net to be surfed, the family home safety is one of the best program now that could protect our children from being harmed on the internet.

Once I believe my Son understands the risks and consequences of what can happen Online. If he is 8 or 18, or whatever does not matter. Age is how many years you have been here, wisdom is what you learn in those years, it comes sooner for some then it does for others. And since you already have proven that you don't trust him to make the right decisions chances are he won't go astray so long as he still lives in your house. Cheers.

if we look at the todays world, an estimated 10 million children are using the internet . The kids.net study showed that children find the internet easy to use, and like to use it for fun, games,chatting, e-mails,etc NOW childrens study books which are also available on internet.as it plays a great role in childrens life.

OK My oldest is 16 and my youngest(that uses the computer) is 9 there is a program on that computer that screens everything they type, all of the websites they go to, and any emails containing "danger words" that I chose. IT is not because I think they are up to no good it is because I don't trust the rest of the world. For this I will remain forever vigilant or at least as long as they are under 18 and living at home. I have to admit too that it came in very handy when some one broke the "no download" rule and we ended up with a trojan. the program had already sent the info to my computer before it crashed so I knew what site it came from and when it was downloaded which meant I knew which kid broke the rule, and I was able to set up a block on that site so they couldn't do it again.

It really is tough. I am a young adult myself, and seeing the things I see online I would never let my kids online without supervision. At the same time, I would be embarrassed and somewhat ashamed to be monitoring my children because that tells the child that you dont trust THEM. You mentioned that its the web you dont trust, but it still shows the child that you cant trust him/her because you are monitoring their behavior. Its a hard position to be put in, but I guess its not fair to be monitoring him with out his knowledge. I think you should be truthful with him just as you would want him to be truthful with you. I am afraid if he finds out that you were monitoring him he might to something to rebel. I think he learned his lesson after talking to that 26 year old two years ago, and you should be a bit more lenient. I know its tough because the internet is a very scary place but if your son is smart about his decisions and he has shown that he is making the right decisions you should show him that you trust him.
Good luck and I wish you the best

My Daughter got her first "in bedroom computer" at age 12. But I had all parental controlls in place. DUH..She is 22 now and is a very responsible young lady with whom I would trust with my life.

moon

17 years old. Hmmm? one more year to be an adult. I have always said that you can't shelter your children from the evils of the world. Teach them how to deal with the evils of the world. A couple years and step-son could be a soldier fighting in a war somewhere.You see, it's probably time to start treating them like an adult which means giving privacy. If your job raising them was done well, there is no problem. If not, keep teaching, but allow them to stumble for that teaches as well.