Should parents be allowed to read teens' text messages?

Topic:
Technology Debates

11 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
55% of users

  • No matter what you say, the child is a minor.

    Legally, parents have the right to monitor their child's communications simply because they are legally responsible for the child's actions also. The trust element also comes into play when both the teen and the parent know they can trust each other that their home is a place free of harmful communication. To do that, the parent has to actively monitor the media that the teen uses and engage in censorship, no matter how awful the word seems. It is simply the act of a responsible society that harmful communication is not displayed to children and that children do their part in respecting the laws of society.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Parents reading text messages can reduce peer pressure, and many other bad things in texting.

    I am also a teenager, and reading the no's was mostly on just one thing. I think they shoud be able to read them, because of all the dangerous things in the world. a 13 year old boy/girl new more about things then they did 40 years ago. As you notice on the news about teens using drugs more often then they have before. Using a simple text message to one of your friends about drugs or anything can start peer pressure. You're not talking in person so it's easier to text it then actually say it. I was reading a story in CNN about a computer programmer who figured out slang use of words to cover so parents won't get it. He does have a website up with the meaning of the slang use of words. I looked at one and it said tdtml. This means talk dirty to me later. Parents should be able to ask for the phone to see what they are talking about. They should be able to ask for it at random times. My parents also told me that they will check my phone whenever giving me a heads up that i will just hand it over at any time. This has helped me a lot in my life to stay away from peer pressure and many other things as well. Using the website noslang.com can help you parents figure out what their kids are texting. Reading the CNN report on what they could code for words was absolutely amazing. Go to cnn.com and in the search bar type in "Parents do you know what these texts mean?". Parents you will be stunned at the reports and the type of coding teens use in these days.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes

    Because parents need to know about their teens life and try to help them with any problems

    Yes Anonymous

  • It helps to protect and keep the teen from bad decisions.

    Before I begin, let me explain that I am a teenager. When I text my friends, sometimes the language I use isn't what I would be proud of speaking in front of my parents. Sometimes there are jokes I wouldn't repeat as well. If I can't say these things in front of my parents, why should they have to be said at all? If my parents are allowed to view my text messages, I would clean up my act and do what my parents would like, which is also what is deemed correct and acceptable by society.

    Yes Anonymous

  • As a mom, I have access to all that my teen does, texting included.

    Parents have to be involved in the life of their child(ren). In this day and time, the access that kids have to modes of communication is unreal: text, IM, email, social networking, etc. As a parent, it is my responsibility to keep up with what my child(ren) are getting into. It is called supervision, and it is necessary for a child to be successful in life.

    Yes WindyTrevor49

  • A child is a minor

    My parents went through almost everrything I "owned" and I turned out perfectly fine. Yes when I was younger I thought it was an absolute pain and had no clue why they even dared to but now I look back and see. I was a minor technically I didn't "own" any thing because a minor cannot enter into a contract and be held accountable to it. Also now me and my mother are closer than ever. So the trust issue is not a good excuse!

    Yes Anonymous
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No
45% of users

  • It will make the teen feel insecure even in his/her own house

    Although it is understandable that parents are concerned about their teen, I think such an intrusive method is not an ideal one. Think about the consequences if the teen were to catch his/her parents reading his/her text messages. Not only will the relationship between the parent and teen be strained, the teen may be even more rebellious and commit more disappointing acts. It is unsurprising that almost every teen who finds out about their parent's act will flare up and many will not understand their parents' concern and love expressed in such a way. Other than that, the most significant consequence that even the most understanding and unrebellious teen will experience is the feeling of insecurity even in one's own house. He/she may feel the need to be constantly guarded to prevent his/her privacy to be intruded. This kind of psychological stress is not god for the teen's health and well-being. Since home should be a place where a person feels safe and secure, I feel that this is a serious consequence. Hence, parents should explore better ways to educate their child like directly conveying positive messages and values to bring their child back on track and give the child space to grow, learn, and explore his/her full potential.

    No Anonymous

  • I think not.

    I chose "NO" because I believe that your typical suburban soccer moms have a powertrip, meaning they have a need to check on everything their kid does. Locked doors are not allowed in their house, and they go through the kid's things and consider 5 and 17 to be the same; "minor". But if the kid is under 15, and for some weird reason has a phone in the first place, then that's very different. I encourage being up their ass about their text messages, both to make sure they aren't meeting any creeps, and to make sure they aren't starting any bad habits; like chatspeak.

    No Anonymous

  • No matter what the child has the right of his/her to privacy.

    if u are going to go on give all kinds of nonsence and stupid points please don't.you are saying things like.....child is a minor,reduce peer pressure,parents need to know what the kids are doing,keep the teens from bad convo,supervision or even a idiot saying he/she turned out to be perfect is all total crap.look i am a teen and i am just 16.i would say that i can't take it if one knows about my privacy,and that includes my parents.well the fact that doubt over trust is so there!anyone of you who are against that fact i would just say you are just puting on a mask to be and idiot.it is very simple if the parents trust their child why in the first place they must check the phone????if the parents can build a good relationship with the child then there is no need for this.teens who are doing sumthing wrong knows if he/she has to delete the sms sent or recieved.so thus there is no need at all for this action by parents cause they cannot find anything wrong from the teens who are up to sumthing wrong.get it simply just shut up and think of your teen life before u say yes,and those who you that who said sumthing about the short form look that is only the 2% out of 100.so think annalize before you say sumthing.

    No Anonymous

  • No, it gives your teen reason to think they aren't trusted.

    The fact that a parent has to read a child's text messages to know what's going on in their life makes it seem as if a parent is accusing the child of something wrong. My parents are divorced and growing up my mom never tried to read anything of mine. In return I would tell her when something was happening in my life. My father, however, would try to find out by force, which pushed me away from him and made me tell him less. My mother understood that I would tell her something when I was ready to tell her something. My dad and I no longer talk (for reasons more then just this, but the lack of trust was a definite fuel in the fire)

    No Anonymous

  • Parents reading a child's text messages is an invasion of privacy.

    The child might think that you don't trust him/her and try to isolate him/herself from you. Trust is essential in every relationship, so you should ask them if they have been sending appropriate messages and take their word for it.

    No Anonymous
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