Have you ever thought of putting spyware on your child’s computer? In the article ‘‘Undercover Parent’’, Harlan Coben discusses how most parents won’t even consider putting spyware on their child’s computer. From my point of view parents should put spyware on their child’s computer. Some parents will say that it’s better to use parental blocks that deny access to risky sites. For example, if your child looked up porn, your child would not have access to that website.…
In his essay “Undercover Parent,” Harlan Coben supports the idea of using spyware on teenager’s electronics by parents. Using this spyware you have the ability to “log every keystroke your child makes” (2) and invading their private space. While this idea is valid because most parents who do this are loving and only want to protect their children from harm, by placing this spyware on a teen’s electronics you are not only evading their privacy but also their trust. This is because more than likely parents are doing this behind the child’s back, which could ultimately lead to distrust and resentment due to the lack of trust in the teen to be able to make their own decisions. However, spyware on computers would, in fact, help to prevent situations…
Bad things can happen to them such as being kidnapped. The first reason Coben introduces spyware is so parents can monitor what their teen is doing. A second reason Coben suggest spyware is because one of his friends found out that his straight “A” college bound daughter was doing by using spyware. In my opinion parents shouldn’t consider spyware. I don’t agree with Coben suggesting to parents to consider…
By pointing out that “we’ve all read about the young boy unknowingly conversing with a pedophile,” (66) he pulls at a parent’s natural instinct to protect their children. He wants people to read his essay and feel empathy for the parents that use spyware. He gives an example of a friend who used spyware on his daughter’s computer and found out about his daughter using drugs. By using the spyware to obtain…
Is spyware a good idea to keep your kids safe from dangerous chatters online? Harlan Coben, author of “The Undercover parent”, discusses that spyware may not be such a bad idea. Although it may sound like a good idea, there might be some invasion of privacy. I agree and disagree with Coben’s argument about putting spyware in your kids computer. From my point of view, I do and I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep your kids safe by putting spyware in their computer.…
Coban identifies both the positive and negative options of how spyware can be used to watch over teenagers and their internet activity. He encourages families and parents who…
The Undercover Parent In the article The Undercover Parent By Harlan Coben He tells us what he thinks about putting spyware on your child's computer and how it could be a good thing. Cobens argument is that parents should put spyware on there child's computer. Personally I do not think you should put spyware on your child’s computer because you should of taught your child not to go on bad websites and you should be able to trust your child.…
Would you spy on your children with spyware? In the story “The Undercover Parent” Harlan Coben’s argues that parents should monitor their children with spyware. Spyware is a software downloaded to receive information and data from another's computer. I agree with Coben that parents should monitor their children. However, I disagree that parent should use spyware to do it.…
The Undercover Parent Precis Writer, Harlen Coben in an essay, “The Undercover Parent”, published on March 16th, 2008, discusses some of the pros and cons of installing spyware on a child's computer and argues that it is for the child's safety, therefore parents are justified in it. He supports his claim first by the use of rhetorical question in order to cause his readers to formulate their own opinions on the topic presented, before attempting to persuade them towards his own opinion, second by the use of strong emotional examples so that his audience fears what could happen to their own children through the internet, and finally through the use of transitions to ensure that his audience remains engaged and receptive to his argument throughout…
First and foremost, a parent’s number one goal is to be one hundred percent sure that their kids are secure and blissful. Therefore, if spyware ever becomes necessary to fulfill this desire, then it must occur because it is the parent’s duty to be aware of their children’s habits. Coben explains that using spyware is a “scary, but a good idea” (1) as he considers spyware as a system to help parents monitor their kids and be assured of their safety. At first, parents may suppose that using the software is deceiving and that it should never even be considered. But, if they start to ponder on it, then they will understand its importance and effectiveness.…
I think Harlan Coben tells us why he was initially repelled by the invasion of privacy in paragraph 1 of The Undercover Parent. He tells us Americans in general are suspicious of anything that hints at invasion of privacy. He also associates it with Dick Cheney sitting in a dark room, rubbing his hands together, and reading your most private thoughts. Even the name spyware makes you feel like you are being watched. If this was around when I was a teenager, I would have been livid that my parents would use that.…
Harlan Coben’s OpEd piece “The Undercover Parent” is a powerful piece written to convince parents that the benefits of spyware greatly outweigh the invasion of privacy. Throughout his essay, he maintains a friendly, parent-to-parent tone that one can compare to a conversation over coffee. As a college student without children, I found it difficult to understand the importance of monitoring children’s internet activities. However, when I forced myself to take on the perspective of a parent, I found Coben’s argument to be far more compelling, and found myself understanding the importance of spyware on computers that children have access to. In his article, Coben assumes that readers will have a negative response to the concept of spyware, but he uses his argument effectively to persuade the reader that spyware is not only harmless, but an asset in the toolbox of good parents.…
you’re listening for dangerous chatter.” Coben is basically saying that is parental responsibility to be the “safety net” for you child. Many parents shy away from spyware, but in all honesty its only there for a good purpose. I think if these kids internet use was monitored, there would be a different outcome of these stories. In addition, I think that installing spyware is a very foolproof way to protect your…
The Lower Merion School District provided laptop computers to high school students as part of a one to one program. The program allowed the students to bring home a laptop computer provided by the school district. Unbeknownst to the students or their parents the laptop computers were all programed with spyware that gave the school district access to the computers’ webcam. The goal of the one to one program was to increase the connectivity between home and school for students. The access to computers enabled the students to access online programs and activities that relate to the information that the students learned in the classroom during the day.…
Mary Aiken is a cyberpsychologist. She specializes in the impact of technology on human behaviour, and has written extensively on issues relating to the intersection between humankind and technology. The main theme of this book is how technology shapes the children of our world and how their behavior is developed. Aiken goes over a wide range of subjects from the impact of screens on the developing child to the explosion of teen sexting, and the acceleration of compulsive and addictive behaviors online, such as gaming and shopping. Aiken also provides statistics and incredible case studies of the hidden trends that are shaping our culture and the future of our children as well as raising questions about where the digital revolution is taking…