I read an article in the Des Moines Register online Monday in which the writer was discussing whether teens should have privacy from parents when it comes to their Facebook page.
As far as I’m concerned that’s a no brainer; heck no.

There is no privacy on Facebook really. All those social networking sites are connected in some way or another. And while the average mom and dad may not know how to make the connection and find folks, including their children, online there are hacker types out there and law enforcement personal who can do it fairly easily.
What I’m trying to say is the minute they put anything online they have signed off the privacy argument and I want access.

I don’t get these parents who say their teen won’t friend them or has blocked them. I’m saying, who bought the computer they are using in their cozy little bedroom?  How about we just pack up the computer and allow it to be used only for school work and only when mom or dad is in the room. I mean if your teen is on Facebook doing God knows what, that they want hidden from mom and dad, then they probably don’t need to have access to fb at all. It's called parenting. Teaching our kids that with privilage comes responsibility. And that trust has to be earned.  Besides, what’s the point of hiding Internet inappropriateness from mom and dad while the whole rest of the online world is watching and reading?

So maybe a child doesn't want mom and dad to chit chat with their frineds on their page, I get that.  But I’ll be dog gone if my 15 year old is going to start telling me I don’t have access to his page. If he tried that my response would be; you want to eat don’t you? You want sheets on your bed and clothing on your back don’t you?   I don’tunderstand parents who are always talking about not invading their child’s privacy.

I don't know, maybe I'm missing something. Someone please tell me if I am.

I’m really old school — what privacy?
The only privacy they have from me in my house  is when they are in the restroom and while they are dressing.  I don’t allow my teen to sit in his room with the door shut.  He can close the door when he’s sleep but in the middle of the day when he’s in there on the computer why does the door need to be closed.  What’s he doing that’s so private?
 Listen I trust my kids but they are kids and I know that kids, even the best behaved kids, will push the envelope every time, if you let them. 

Jordan bought his own computer but he doesn’t pay the electric bill; can’t run the thing without electricity. I’m serious. Don’t you know if I had to I’d forbid him to plug the darn thing in.  Thank goodness we haven’t had any such issues in our house yet.  But then he knows that I believe it is a parent’s responsibility to pay attention to what their child is putting on fb, online period. I’m always questioning Jordan and even my 20-year-old about what they post on the web.
 

I think they expect me to be watching and looking out for them.  I tell them all the time I’m trying to watch your back.

I’ve warned them to be careful about what they post online so many times, but I think they get comfortable after a while, forget the rules, slip up and post something they ought not to.  Then they need to be reminded again. Most of the time when I call them on it they are like, Oh, I hadn’t thought about that mom and they take it down.  But, not always.  Sometimes I question something and one of them will claim that it’s harmless and argue to keep it up.  If they pose a good argument I might even concede.
 

Now I  admit we have come to some understanding about what they do online, and even my oldest doesn’t seem to mind having mom among his friends. But I haven’t figured out yet how to keep up with what goes on, on the smart phones.  Hmmmm… !