Should we read our kids' text messages?

[Alicia Leonard]

I like you aleonard--heck, I like anybody that will put up with a Border Collie

Border Collie X2 Glad they put up with me. ThanksI've been doing research on privacy issues since 9/11 and even a little before for a new series coming out in March. I think the young man, if he did his research, would be surprised over just who, besides mom, is reading his text messages.;-)

 

[Rudyjohn]

I like you aleonard--heck, I like anybody that will put up with a Border Collie

 

[Kase626]

maybe at 14.......but if my parents had started rummaging through my things when i was 18..that would have been the end of my trust in them...sure its YOUR cell phone...but you let THEM use it.......take away their text messaging or phone service if they abuse your rules, but don't create an issue of trust by snooping around like they've just committed a felony

give the kids a break...already have to deal with so much nowadays...harder tests.....harder to get into colleges....and every other thing that past generations had to deal with........the world is getting tougher and tougher.......let em breathe

that's just my young-minded .02

No kidding. I'm stressing about this kind of stuff right now as a matter of fact. If my parents were snooping ON TOP of that, I would probably go crazy.

Very good point, Yucarenow.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

from Sarge and Shyann.

 

[bluemtnrunner]

No kidding. I'm stressing about this kind of stuff right now as a matter of fact. If my parents were snooping ON TOP of that, I would probably go crazy.

Very good point, Yucarenow.

But I have a very good relationship with all of my children.
My kid isn't freaking out about this though. She is fine with all of it. That is one of my points, his freak out over this, not hers. In fact she just came in and read this along with the guy's most recent post on my Facebook page (right next to the picture of his report card which he also posted today 3 A's, 2 B's and D..in history.)

His rebuttal:
I believe that this has ground in the Supreme Court. You may own the phone and pay the bill, But you daughter is an adult. I argue that any Communication between two adults (text message, Written, Or otherwise) Is protected under the constitution of the United States of America and is held to be Private. Protect children is one thing. Infringing on an adults right to privacy is another.

1)He reverses is earlier opinion that I can read the outgoing texts but not the incoming texts
2) The right to privacy (the word privacy) is not in the constitution.
3) My employer can read what I am writing right now because it is being on done on their computer
4) Newspaper Obtains Detroit Mayor's Text Messages
The Detroit Free Press reports today that it has obtained text messages showing that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff lied about their relationship when they testified in a police whistle-blower trial last summer....
go to the link to read the rest http://blog.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/01/newspaper_obtains_mayors_text.html

So sue me!!! I felt that this guy was a total A$$. Believed my kid was not focusing on getting done with her last few months of school and her plan for after that because of their relationship. After I texted him, he freaked and has continued to freak and say a lot of things that are making my daughter and their other friends see a side of him that they did not believe existed. A side that I had the misfortune of seeing 6 months ago.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

But I have a very good relationship with all of my children.
My kid isn't freaking out about this though. She is fine with all of it. That is one of my points, his freak out over this, not hers. In fact she just came in and read this along with the guy's most recent post on my Facebook page (right next to the picture of his report card which he also posted today 3 A's, 2 B's and D..in history.)

His rebuttal:
I believe that this has ground in the Supreme Court. You may own the phone and pay the bill, But you daughter is an adult. I argue that any Communication between two adults (text message, Written, Or otherwise) Is protected under the constitution of the United States of America and is held to be Private. Protect children is one thing. Infringing on an adults right to privacy is another.

1)He reverses is earlier opinion that I can read the outgoing texts but not the incoming texts
2) The right to privacy (the word privacy) is not in the constitution.
3) My employer can read what I am writing right now because it is being on done on their computer
4) Newspaper Obtains Detroit Mayor's Text Messages
The Detroit Free Press reports today that it has obtained text messages showing that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff lied about their relationship when they testified in a police whistle-blower trial last summer....
go to the link to read the rest http://blog.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/01/newspaper_obtains_mayors_text.html

So sue me!!! I felt that this guy was a total A$$. Believed my kid was not focusing on getting done with her last few months of school and her plan for after that because of their relationship. After I texted him, he freaked and has continued to freak and say a lot of things that are making my daughter and their other friends see a side of him that they did not believe existed. A side that I had the misfortune of seeing 6 months ago.

I am infuriated by his response. He needs to check back with the courts on that one. In many states communications are not considered private as per the means of transmission(cordless phone vs hard-line) and it's legal in many states(not Florida) to record a conversation as long as one person is aware, but not both parties. Other than that I agree with you. Let him sue. He will quickly find out how he has no legal standing in his argument. The Federal courts can't even find out how many Americans have been listened to by the current administration and he thinks this has been ruled on by the Supreme Court??????
I have withheld my vote on this one but now I say.........outa here with you kiddo.

Methinks he doth protest too much.........

 

[scooterbug44]

Methinks he will be on the news soon, and not for something good!

What a tool!

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Methinks he will be on the news soon, and not for something good!

What a tool!

Ditto

 

[Jennifer Steele]

My parents' position was that they trusted you until something happened to betray that trust and then it was Gestapo time. They were big fans of "you're a kid, you have no rights" and "privileges must be earned".

I never thought it would, but this has become my parental position, too. Fortunately, I'm married to a former Marine who can easily turn into drill sergeant because I am a terrible one.

 

[ktschris]

I've struggled with this question for a few years now. And this is what I think:

The world has changed. Cyberspace has become our children's playground. If my son were to walk out the door to play with a group of kids, I would want to know who they were. So NO, I do not have a problem letting him know I have access to his text messages, myspace, and emails. It's my job as a parent to know who he is "hanging out" with and what he is doing. Almost half of the kids in his friends list, I don't know. If they were to come to the house, I would be able to talk with them and get to know them. But they are virtual strangers...so I read their profiles and their messages.

Don't get me wrong, I don't read everything, and honestly I haven't check his im's or myspace in a long time - but he knows I could if I wanted to.