Students,
Last week in the New York Times, an article by Jan Hoffman, “As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch-Up,” discusses the challenges parents face in keeping their children safe from bullies online.
Hoffman writes:
It is difficult enough to support one’s child through a siege of schoolyard bullying. But the lawlessness of the Internet, its potential for casual, breathtaking cruelty, and its capacity to cloak a bully’s identity all present slippery new challenges to this transitional generation of analog parents.
Desperate to protect their children, parents are floundering even as they scramble to catch up with the technological sophistication of the next generation.
…online bullying can be more psychologically savage than schoolyard bullying. The Internet erases inhibitions, with adolescents often going further with slights online than in person.
“It’s not the swear words,” [cybercrimes specialist, Inspector Brian] Brunault said. “They all swear. It’s how they gang up on one individual at a time. ‘Go cut yourself.’ Or ‘you are sooo ugly’ — but with 10 u’s, 10 g’s, 10 l’s, like they’re all screaming it at someone.”
…“I’m not seeing signs that parents are getting more savvy with technology,” said Russell A. Sabella, former president of the American School Counselor Association. “They’re not taking the time and effort to educate themselves, and as a result, they’ve made it another responsibility for schools. But schools didn’t give the kids their cellphones.”
For this week's blog prompt respond to the following questions in 2-3 paragraphs.
- How aware are your parents or guardians of what you do online or via your cellphone?
- Do they monitor the sites you visit, the things you post to Facebook or the texts you send?
- Do you think they should? Where would you draw the line between appropriate monitoring and invasion of your privacy? Why?
- Have you experienced an incident online in which your parents intervened, or in which you wish they had?
This week's blog prompt is courtesy of the New York Times Learning Network.
My parents aren’t that aware of what I do online mainly because they don’t use the internet often and because they aren’t sure about whats I'm doing or reading online. Also my parents don’t look at what I'm doing on my phone because I usually am in the corner or on my bed. I also have a pass code on it so that she can’t access it without my permission or password. My parents aren't are of what I do on facebook or on my phone because I don’t use facebook often and I can’t text because my mom cut that out of my phone plan. For me personally, I think they shouldn’t be involved with our business because its like were looking in there business, like taxes and overdue bills and stuff. I also think if they wanted to look they could, but only if it was stuff like gaming, reading articles and homework stuff, like blogging. I would draw the line when I'm talking to my friends about my business and my personal life, like I got a bad grade in school. No, not really because I don’t use my email so no one can send me harmful stuff and when I do see something harmful I don’t get bothered about it because they don’t know me or who I am and where I live at. The only time I would want them to interfere is when I need help on my homework and when I'm having a tough time deciding on what I should do on a project.
ReplyDeleteMy parents aren't aware of what I do online, and I don't think they need to because I never do anything bad, and I also know that they trust me. I don't have a cellphone, so I can't do anything on there. My parents don't monitor the sites I go on, I'm not allowed to have a Facebook so they can't monitor my posts, and I don't have a cell phone. I don't think my parents should really monitor what I'm doing online, but they can if they want to because I never go on any online chat rooms, or anything that you can get cyber-bullied on. If my parents DID monitor my every move on the internet, I'd think it's fine, but I would get a little bit annoyed if they're always looking over my shoulder. I think that it would be annoying because I would never be able to have private conversations with my friends, or check my email without being asked what I'm doing. Nothing has ever happened to me online where my parents intervened, or I wish they had.
ReplyDeleteDear tr.lacey,
ReplyDeletemy parents are not awera of what i do on the laptops becaouse the trust me. and if i do get cybord bully i would report an abusse on myspace, twitter, meez, facebook, or anything else that somebody can cyber bullie me.
By Sied
My parents don't always know what I'm doing online because sometimes she asks me "What are doing on the computer?" and I just tell her I'm checking my e-mail and she goes away. She sometimes looks at my phone to see who I'm texting but never at the direct texts I've sent out. I don't go on Facebook that much because I usually have other things to do. I think they shouldn't look at my stuff like e-mail or texts because she doesn't want me to look at her e-mails or texts or calls, so I don't want her to look at my personal life. I also think she shouldn't look at my personal life is because people say treat other people how you want to be treated. My mom has never intervened and I don't want her to because this is my personal stuff and she sure doesn't want me to look at her stuff. Th only time I WOULD want her to intervene is when I need help on my homework.
ReplyDeleteDear,Tr.Lacey
ReplyDeleteMy mom isn't so aware of what I do because I don't have a Facebook but I do have a Myspace which I don't get on anymore because its boring. No my mom doesn't check what I do on my phone or anything Because its an amount of trust and privacy. I actually don't know if my mom monitors the sites I be on because I don't get on my computer often. No I don’t think my mom should check what I do because I would call that a stalker. I would draw the line at constantly monitoring what your child does and an invasion of privacy would be looking at your Childs phone everyday or by going online and looking at what your child does on the internet and what they text about and who they text. I think this because its like your going the extra mile for no reason and doing unnecessary stuff being overprotective for no reason. No I have not ever had an incident online or on the phone that which my parent intervened or I wish they did intervene.
Dear Tr.Lacy
ReplyDeleteMy parents are not aware of the things I put on the enternet and don't need to worry about it. I do not think my parents need to know what I am doing on the computer because all I do is home work and watch missed episodes of the office on hulu. (I know it's lame) They also don't have to worry about what I post on facebook because I don't have one.(compleatly my decition) Although it is very true that some parents should be aware because inaproprate thing don't pop up by themselves.
I know my parents trust me on the computer and as long as the'er not constntly checking EVERYTHING I do online it is ok after all the'er just trying to protect us. No I have not ever wished that my parents have ever intervened decause
I play it safe.
-mmp
My parents know what I do on the computer becuase I don't get on alot. The only time I get on the computer is when I have to homework or something important. But if my parents did'nt know what I do on the computer and I was getting cyber bullied I would report abuse. My parents sometimes check what I am texting. I think they should check what you do online and on your cellphone. Besides they are only trying to protect you.
ReplyDeleteDear Tr.Lacey,
ReplyDeleteSometimes my mom monitors my computer. It's really rare that she checks my computer. On the other hand my dad is very purtective about what his kid does. It's different having to different parents and there ways are funny, trying to remember who does what.
Occasionaly my mom will ask what I'm doing on the computer not like my dad who has to look at my computer to know what I'm doing. Sometimes I think he likes to mess with me. I think that's how dads are. Somrtimes my mom asks me who I'm talking to for safety reasons. My dad doesn't really care.
With parents they check on you for a reason. Sometimes you think they're being a pest, but it's with love. Sometimes they will invade your privicy but what my mom says is " since you're still im my house you have no privicy". Sometimes I do get privicy but it's really rare. I have to agree sometimes you have to draw the line and sometimes you hope they don't cross it. I think that because sometimes you want to talk to your friends without parents aking you questions about it. Also so they don't get in your face embarrasing you talking to your friends about your secrets.
My mom has never intervend with my personal life. She may ask some questions but they're not personal questions. I never think to get my parents involded in my problems because sometimes it makes things worst. That's my opinion
Dear Tr. Lacey
ReplyDeleteMy parents are not that aware of what I do on the inernet. I wouldn't care if they monitored everything I do on the internet, because I don't bother anyone and nobody bothers me. I don't do anything my parents would consider inappropriate on the Internet. Parents should observe what their child, or children, are doing on the internet. I think it's their responsibility to make sure their child is using the Internet appropriatly. People also need privacy though, so if they are talking to their friends or doing school work then they should be left alone. If people are texting their friends they see everyday and their parents are always supervising them, I think that's an invasion of privacy. I've never been in an incident where on the Internet where my parents were needed to intervene. Therefore I think parents should occasionally monitor their child's behavior on the internet, unless they're interacting with their usual friends.
my parents are not aware of what i do in the computer or in my cell phone,they trust me!!
ReplyDeletei dont care if the monitored saved all the websites that i go,because i know that im not doing nothing bad do why should i be scared or afraid to show them what websites im going 2
I think my parents not that aware about what I do online or cellphone. I think, sometimes my parents monitor the sites that I visit, but I do not care about it because I’m not open or doing any bad things in it. But for the things that I post on facebook, I don’t thing they monitor about things that I post on facebook, they just give me advise to not writing bad things on it and they said they trust me. And for text that I sent, may be they do, but for secret,I’m really sure that they can’t see it, because every time I sent it to the people or people sent it to me I immediately delete it from my phone, and make sure they are gone. I think, it’s ok if parents worried about their children, because if their children open inappropriate video, that video affect their children and it will bring adverse effects for their children or maybe parents worried about what their children texting. But parents do not need always to monitoring what their children doing, parents need to try trust their children, especially if their children are teenagers, they been a teenagers and feel how to be a teenagers. Parents can worry and keep their children from bad things that can harm them, but not to strict, because teenagers need a little free than a kids. And Im happy because I do not have any incident that my parents intervened and make my parents don’t trust me.
ReplyDeleteI think my parents not that aware about what I do online or cellphone. I think, sometimes my parents monitor the sites that I visit, but I do not care about it because I’m not open or doing any bad things in it. But for the things that I post on facebook, I don’t thing they monitor about things that I post on facebook, they just give me advise to not writing bad things on it and they said they trust me. And for text that I sent, may be they do, but for secret,I’m really sure that they can’t see it, because every time I sent it to the people or people sent it to me I immediately delete it from my phone, and make sure they are gone. I think, it’s ok if parents worried about their children, because if their children open inappropriate video, that video affect their children and it will bring adverse effects for their children or maybe parents worried about what their children texting. But parents do not need always to monitoring what their children doing, parents need to try trust their children, especially if their children are teenagers, they been a teenagers and feel how to be a teenagers. Parents can worry and keep their children from bad things that can harm them, but not to strict, because teenagers need a little free than a kids. and Im happy because I do not have any incident that my parents intervened and make my parents don’t trust me.I think my parents not that aware about what I do online or cellphone. I think, sometimes my parents monitor the sites that I visit, but I do not care about it because I’m not open or doing any bad things in it. But for the things that I post on facebook, I don’t thing they monitor about things that I post on facebook, they just give me advise to not writing bad things on it and they said they trust me. And for text that I sent, may be they do, but for secret,I’m really sure that they can’t see it, because every time I sent it to the people or people sent it to me I immediately delete it from my phone, and make sure they are gone. I think, it’s ok if parents worried about their children, because if their children open inappropriate video, that video affect their children and it will bring adverse effects for their children or maybe parents worried about what their children texting. But parents do not need always to monitoring what their children doing, parents need to try trust their children, especially if their children are teenagers, they been a teenagers and feel how to be a teenagers. Parents can worry and keep their children from bad things that can harm them, but not to strict, because teenagers need a little free than a kids. and Im happy because I do not have any incident that my parents intervened and make my parents don’t trust me.
ReplyDeleteDear Tr.Lacey
ReplyDeleteMy aunt is aware of what I do on the computer. But she trusts me because I do not do any wrong on the computer. I also try make sure that my friends do not write any foul language an facebook or anything and if they do I try to delete it.
By Anais R.
Dear Tr. Lacey
ReplyDeleteMy mother is aware with what is going is going on the computer. Yes i have been in this type of situation but their were no bullying there were just rude conversation an my mom knew an told me how to handle it, my mom dosent even like when i put pictures on my facebook an she said don't tell people where you are or give them your email, number so i can say she's aware and protective
Greetings Tr.Lacey,
ReplyDeleteBoth my parents are aware of the things that go on when I'm computer( which is not frequently).At times when I'm texting in the car they may out of the blue just snatch my phone out my hand. When I would be on the computer my father may just take it and look at the resent sites that I've been on.
I believe that each of them have the right to do that because both of them pay for the phone bill. But the thing with that is I dislike when people take stuff from my hands.I have an online avatar and I've had someone just go on my page and being saying explicit words, talking about dumb stuff.
Sincerely,
Ta'Hira Simone Boone-Branch
My parents are pretty aware of what I do on the online and on the cell phone because they monitor my use, I am on them a lot. But they trust me because they know I am not on any bad websites. I do not go on Facebook. I like other websites. About texting, my parents will once in awhile look at the messages on my phone but that is about it. In summary, this is what I pretty much do on the computer and cell phone.
ReplyDeleteWhere I would draw the line for appropriate monitoring and invasion of my privacy would be if my parents constantly looked at what I did on my computer and phone; like 28/7. It would not feel right having my parents always on my back about what I am doing online or on my cell phone. I am fine with how my parents are monitoring my use right now. I have never gotten in an incident where my parents intervened in a chat because I do not go on websites where people chat. These are my thoughts about this subject.
Dear Tr. Lacey
ReplyDeleteMy parents don't check what i do online and what text messages I send. I don't think that my mom looks at those things because she trust me.She trusts me enough to know that I will not do or say anything that I won't do in front of her or anywhere else. Also I don't cause no trouble and if i don't like someone i don't mess with no one and they don't mess with me.
No I do not think that my parents should check what i do online. That's my opinion because my my parents should trust me enough to know that i won't do anything they don't want me to do. i draw the line when your parents are always just taking your cell phone and get mad over you just i an acronym that has profanity in it. There's big difference between doing that and saying that you can't text someone because of them being a bad influence.
Dear Tr.lacey
ReplyDeleteMy parent know alot about what I do on the computer And who I tawlk to.I think that they alo know that I use the computer for educational purposes. Like doing homework writing essay and other thing in that nature. I know that my mom & dad are not fan of me having a facebook they trust me to be doing the rite things on the computer. Because I know that high schools can look up your name and find out all types of thing that you have been doing. So I know to be wise about what im doing and ho I am doing it. And me myelf I have never gotten into any trubble on the computer. Were my parent have invated into my privicy on the computer.I do not go on any webites were you can chat with anyone and i do not download anything that I am not suppoe to.
from:Rasheed.wilson
I am very aware that my parents know what I do online. On a cell phone, they do not have to worry because my phone only makes calls. It can not go to the internet like other cooler phones.
ReplyDeleteThey monitor the sites I visit once in a while; they don’t look at the texts I send because I rarely send text to people. My parents do not have to check Facebook because I do not have an account. I do care about privacy and I feel it should be respected though at the same time I feel that parents should have the right to know what their children are up to on the internet.
In my life there has never an incident online for my parents to intervene. I do get in play fights online. You know, call people silly names or make fun of someone. I would never get in to a real fight online unless someone called me a horrible name. They would also have to get all my nerves and make me angry
My parents are not aware of what I do on the computer like watching me type things on websites or anything,but they do sometimes look at my comments and post on some websites to be sure that i'm not getting into trouble.
ReplyDeleteMy parents are very aware of what I'm doing on the internet and on my cellphone.They can't monitor what I'm doing b/c I don't have a face book.But they do monitor my texts.I think they should monitor my stuff because I might not know waht I'm doing.I should draw the line if they do it every day b/c that migrt be over protected.I have no expirence of a incident.
ReplyDeleteI don't really go on the computer much, except for my email. My parents know that I have one but don't pay much attention to it. Besides that, they can't really monitor much because I don't have a Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, or whatever and I'm not allowed to have one because they think that it's a distraction for me. Sometimes my parents do this thing where they do this surprise inspection so I can't delete anything or change anything. They also took my email password, which I think completely crosses the line in all privacy matters, and the phone inspection kind of does too.
ReplyDeleteMy parent is aware of what I do online because I'm never on the computer or the internet. But I do text but my parent trusts me or I woudln't have a cell phone. Yes I do have the right to go on the computer to see what websites their children go on when they are on the computer.
ReplyDeleteBut if the think their children can't be trusted they definetly should go online and see what their chldren go on when online.
My parents sometimes check what sites I’m on when I’m on the Internet. Sometimes my mother tells me what sites not to go on. She has filtering on my browser to control the content. My Dad sometimes talks about it and is not very suspicious.
ReplyDeleteI have no Facebook page or I do not have a phone to text people. I don’t want either of these because of cyber-bullying, almost everyone on Facebook is creepy and there is not very much to do. Another thing is that I believe that if I do texting or Facebook, I would be wasting time. I have better things to do then talking on Facebook.
Instead of Facebook, my interests are listening to music while playing drums, playing video games. I like to research subjects that I like on the Internet, such as movies, Rock history, YouTube and Amazon.
I don’t think my parents should monitor what I do on the Internet because I don’t look at inappropriate sites. I have never experienced any bullying online. I have enough trouble as it is.
Dear tr. Lacey,
ReplyDeleteMy mom is fully aware of what websites I go on and if there for educational purposes, for fun, or just to chat like facebook for an example. I hope my mom doesn't monitor my posts that I put on facebook because they are all appropriate and or other websites I go on they are fine to. I think parents should have a good relationship at all times with there children so that they shouldn't have to worry about the parents checking their every move online so that they won't have to hide anything. I would draw the line with stalking your child seeing what websites they were recently on because then you are showing that they cannot trust you with knowing their daily life. And finally I have never had a time were I was into a conflict online that my parents should get involved in.
sincerely,
Kayla
Dear Tr.Lacey,
ReplyDeleteMy parents are very aware of what I do online, cell phone and ever electronic I own that i can access the internet. My parents monitor my facebook statuses, texts that I send to people and my facebook posts. My parents know I need privacy and respect it. They give me space and monitor me at the same time.
I think they should monitor me sometimes. Even though they put alot of trust in me. I draw the line where they question me repeatedly and watch over everything I do on the internet to the point where I have no privacy. If they do that It shows they have no trust in me at all. I have experienced a sistuation in which my parents intervened for what I had done. Somehow, my mom found out that I had feelings for someone and that we were in a relationship. Me and mom talked and she said that she understood and that she misunderstood the details and we both forgot about it and moved on.
Kenan
ReplyDeleteMy mom is aware of what I go on when i'm on the computer at home because she can check my laptop.
my parents are aware of some thing i do online.yes my mother just her monitor thing that i be on but not all of the times,no i dont think that she should monitor me or what i be on.
ReplyDeleteDear Tr.Lacey
ReplyDeleteMy parent is very aware of the things I do online. When I am online my my parent does moniter me and comes to check what website
I am viewing. The computor is in a open space where everybody can see whats on the screen. After I am finished using the computor my mom checks websites I have visited.
When my parent checks what I am doing on the P.C. I feel as though she is not violating my privacy. But making sure I am doing the right thing. I have never been cyber bullied. I have seen and heard of people who have been cyber bullied but this has never been an issue for me.
I almost never go on any type of social network unless it is a online game. When being made fun of I delete my account on this website and never visiting it again.
My parent has never intervine with any of my text. But she has checked the people who I text. But I feel that this is out of concern for my saftey, not because she trying to invade my privacy.She has gone through my music and did not approve of the lyrics and has confiscated the mp3. But this was because of concern that the music I was listening to did not approve of her standerds.
Dear Tr.Lacey
ReplyDeletePersonally my parents don’t know a lot about internets sites like that but they don’t worry. They don’t worry because I have an older sister who checks my facebook and my phone and she tells my parents. They are pretty aware on my phone because they check and they tell me if they find something they will just take my text away and my internet.
I think they should because if you don’t have nothing to hide then nothing will happen. If you do have something to hide just tell them because they are your parents and they will find out sooner or later. I don’t have a line because their my parents I don’t mind. I haven’t experience no incident online luckily and I don’t have one in which I wish they have.
Dontae
ReplyDeleteI think my parents are not aware because i do not have a facebook my phone broke and they do not check the websitei am on because I play games or wath a movie or do homework.
No because your parents need to trust you and not get supious
dontae
ReplyDeleteMy parents don't know what i do alot on the comuter. Or on my phone . Because they trust I do my homework and look up something.I don't go on facebook because I don't have one and I have a myspace but forgot my password.
I don't think they should look on your emails or personal stuff because you need your space as much as they do and try to trust you.I don't think your parents should interfear unless you nedd help with some thing. Treat people with respect like how you want to be treated
My parents do not monitor me on the Internet. I have been in a situation where I was addressed on the Internet and I had wished my mom was there. No, my mother does not read my text messages nor does she know what I post on Facebook. I draw the line in looking through someone's cell phone as an invasion of privacy. If I was a parent of a 7th grader, I think I would look into their whereabouts and what they are doing on the Internet. I would not question safety if I am around but I would worry about the safety in bullying, threats, rude kids in general. You always have to worry about the safety of your kids from not only other kids but adults also. In today's world, no one cares about other's feelings but will do whatever to get what they want.
ReplyDelete