Parental Spyware: A Debate for the Ages
The internet, as well as being an efficient resource, also presents a difficult ethical dilemma for humanity as a whole. More specifically, it presents a debate for parents on whether their children should be allowed on it, as it poses many dangers as well as virtues. This also brings up a topic that many parents avoid: parental spyware. Harlan Coben, a writer and a father of four, faces this issue head-on in his article, “The Undercover Parent”. In his piece, Coben explains that he believes that parental spyware should be used under the circumstances that the child or children that the spyware is being used to spy on are aware of the parent’s spyware use and that the parent is only using it to listen …show more content…
One reason that children should be unmonitored online is the fact that the internet is place of opinion and parental monitoring could a hinder to the formation of a child’s opinions. As Coben defines in his article, “If you put spyware on your computer, you have the ability to log every keystroke your child makes and thus a good portion of his or her private world” (Coben 2). With this knowledge, it becomes apparent that spyware allows a parent to see everything that their child does through technology. I think Dana Boyd, author of “Let Kids Run Wild Online”, best explains why teens do not want this type of spying when she determines that, “Social media and smartphone apps have become so popular in recent years because teens need a place to call their own. They want the freedom to explore their identity and the world around them”, in her piece (Boyd 3). As a teenager myself, I agree, and I believe that many of my peers would agree as well. Social media has become an outlet for many teens, as youth today seem to be more aware of major world issues than in the past generations of teens, in which we get to voice our opinions about subjects that are considered too “taboo” to talk about with our elders. Many guardians share concern for their children becoming too distinct from them and try to force
The internet, as well as being an efficient resource, also presents a difficult ethical dilemma for humanity as a whole. More specifically, it presents a debate for parents on whether their children should be allowed on it, as it poses many dangers as well as virtues. This also brings up a topic that many parents avoid: parental spyware. Harlan Coben, a writer and a father of four, faces this issue head-on in his article, “The Undercover Parent”. In his piece, Coben explains that he believes that parental spyware should be used under the circumstances that the child or children that the spyware is being used to spy on are aware of the parent’s spyware use and that the parent is only using it to listen …show more content…
One reason that children should be unmonitored online is the fact that the internet is place of opinion and parental monitoring could a hinder to the formation of a child’s opinions. As Coben defines in his article, “If you put spyware on your computer, you have the ability to log every keystroke your child makes and thus a good portion of his or her private world” (Coben 2). With this knowledge, it becomes apparent that spyware allows a parent to see everything that their child does through technology. I think Dana Boyd, author of “Let Kids Run Wild Online”, best explains why teens do not want this type of spying when she determines that, “Social media and smartphone apps have become so popular in recent years because teens need a place to call their own. They want the freedom to explore their identity and the world around them”, in her piece (Boyd 3). As a teenager myself, I agree, and I believe that many of my peers would agree as well. Social media has become an outlet for many teens, as youth today seem to be more aware of major world issues than in the past generations of teens, in which we get to voice our opinions about subjects that are considered too “taboo” to talk about with our elders. Many guardians share concern for their children becoming too distinct from them and try to force