AmyBelle

Bek is to young for computers (althouth the thought of a 3yr old knowing how to surf the web isnt so far from reality nowadays is it?) but the amount of supervision I give to the computer in the future would be dependant on my relationship with her, however, the computer will always be in a central place, once the new baby comes we wont have a study anymore, so the computer will have to go in the lounge, and im 100% against the computers in rooms idea, because I think its ridiculous to have loads of electronics surrounding you when you sleep. Plus, one computer for 4 people is more than enough.

If she's off in her own world, not listening to a thing I say, screaming at me about privacy when she finds out that vaccumed her room when she's at school, then hell im going to snoop, because I wouldnt know her well enough to trust her, plus that is generally a big sign saying "I do stuff I know you wont like"

However, if she's open with me about not only stuff online but general life aswell, and she grows up to be an intelligent girl with street smarts then I think a couple of glances over her shoulder is sufficient.

As for myspace, I think that up until you are an adult it should be set to private, and that will be her instruction if she chooses to use the site.

I think if parents make the internet out to be this big bad thing that must be monitored at all times, then the curiosity of 'what is so bad about it' will lead teens off onto more undesireable websites and situations, if not at home, at friends palces where there isnt as much supervision, however, if more trust is put in there, and things are discussed in a manner that a teenager can relate to, such as 'why we dont place photos of ourselves in our underwear on the internet' conversations steering away from "OH MY GOD OLD MAN POSING AS 13YR OLD IS GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN AND RAPE YOU" and more into how we present ourselves and how we want to be seen by the world, aswell as self respect, then the issue wouldnt be so bad.

As for those filters, my 9yr old niece knows more about computers than anyone in our family, so im guessing that your average teen can turn those on and off without you even realising.

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