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How much time does your teen spend in front of the computer?
By Mother | July 23, 2006
My teens used to be able to stay in front of the computer for about an hour a day. They either surf the web, blog, listen to music, read and send emails. However, a month ago, I happened to check on my daughter’s blog in My Space and was saddened to see some inappropriate posts - from her and from some of her “friends”. Since then, their computer time has been limited and MONITORED. I guess I was just not expecting something inappropriate coming from my daughter’s thoughts …. am I in denial ?
My daughter is 15 and my son is 13 going on 14 next month … It shocks me to see the kinds of comments and pictures they post in their My Space Blogs - Perhaps I am an evil mom but - I had them delete their My Space accounts and said if they needed a blog, mom can make one for them.
How about you - moms of teens, how much time do your kids stay in front of the computer and what do they do?
Topics: General ChitChat |
July 23rd, 2006 at 2:31 pm
My 15 year old lost her computer privilidges a few months ago because I ran across a few inappropriate e-mails and a VERY inappropriate myspace account for her so I pulled the plug on ALL PC Use unless it is for school.
There are so many people out there that actually hone in to young teens and lure them out of their homes. It is quite alarming.
I told my daughter that we can re-visit the computer usage at a later date and we discussed the dangers.
Aurelia
July 24th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Hi Marie,
I have 4 kids (24-15yrs) We never had a computer until about 6 years ago so the older kids spent most of their time playing outside and hanging out with friends. Now on the other hand our 15yr old has had access to our computer.
If we let him the boy will spend all day and night on it. I can’t get him to go outside or anything because if he’s not on the computer he’s on his video games. (sad)
2 years ago we had to stop letting him be online without someone being here because he actually gave someone online his location as to where he lives. This person actually came to our house! We had no idea who he was! My son said he was a friend of his from school. My daughter questioned my son as to where he met this guy because he looked to be older than middle school age. He was 18! Son confessed about meeting him online. OMG! This guy looked like a street person! No telling what could have happened!
So anyway…He is no longer allowed online without an adult being here to keep an eye on him. His online days and hours are VERY limited.
Our Son asked how long he has to be punished for this…our answer…FOREVER!!!
melanie
http://www.freewebs.com/momsworkshop
August 2nd, 2006 at 12:12 am
I have been through this with my sixteen year in 8th grade. We found questionable stuff popping up on our computer. He was grounded! Of course, he was allowed only to use the school computer that was issued and at the end of the year we had the computer checked out for anything that we might have needed to be concerned with. We have our computer in the family room and monitor it when they are on it. We have the parent blocking with Norton which does not allow anything that is inapropriate to be logged in on the kids section. Both my husband and myself have the computer passworded for us and not for the kids. We regularly check it in history and try to maintain and certain amount of time during the week. Which is a couple of days each kids get to do something on the computer in front of us. Daughter is not allowed to have email and she is thirteen, she shares with me…due to the fact I was getting inapropriate emails for her age. Which I check and delete…and let her read the one’s that are ok. Right now she is grounded for other things…so it will be a long time before I can trust her on different things, as well as the computer. The oldest is getting better….and after being grounded several times…he is finally getting the hint.
As far as the My Space…I don’t allow it. I have heard and read to much about it. I don’t even let them talk in a chat room for teens…due to the concerns I have with predators looking to harm young people. So, in short…emails, chat rooms, etc…is all blocked with my Norton…and this has cut down on a lot of garbage. Now I just have to convince my daughter to stop downloading photos off the internet before checking it with our virus check. Because in all reality…you can’t stop everything…but I sure can try. Hope this helps! Hugs from NM!
Sincerely,
Thelma Webb
P.S. My youngest plays only a few times a week with his educational games. We have playstation which is safer…and easier to monitor with games. BFN!