Should Parent's Spy On Their Kid's Online Activity: Pros & Cons

The internet is a vast city without any police. Thus, one must be extremely careful in browsing through the World Wide Web to ensure that we do not indulge in any activity that may pose a threat to our identity.

Worried about the same, most parents resort to techniques to monitor their child's activities on the internet and gain information about them. However is it ethical to spy on your child?

Like every coin that has two sides, spying on the child's internet usage has its pros and cons. Let's browse through the PROS of the same:

#1. Allows You To Be Aware Of Various Activities

(Image Courtesy: Make Use Of)

By monitoring the activities of your child, you are acutely aware of the all the activities your child engages in on the internet. It gives a complete view into the apps and the websites your child browses through in its idle time and ensure no illegal sites are being views by your child.

#2. Alert You To Cyber Bullying & Other Activities

(Image Courtesy: Teen Life )

If in case your child is being bullied by other people on the internet, bullies innocent children or indulges in illicit sexual behavior on the World Wide Web, it comes under your notice. By tracking all the activities performed by the child on the internet, the parent ensures that their child is involved in no ill activities that may tarnish its identity or its reputation in the social circle.

#3. Limits The Browsing Time

(Image Courtesy: Pinterest )

Monitoring your child's time as it surfs the internet can be beneficial as it would restrict your child from spending endless hours on the web. It will teach them to interact with the real people and build connections outside the virtual world. 

#4. Identify The Bad Apples

(Image Courtesy: She Knows)

The Internet is a vast ocean of information with different kinds of people- some good and some bad. By spying on your child's activities on the web, one learns about the types of people they interact with on social media platforms. It helps the parents in identifying who are healthy for their child and who have vicious intentions to hurt the child's sentiments and trust. Therefore, it can serve as a great tool to filter the wrong people out of the child's life by shielding them from the evil. 

Every debate has a counter argument that must also be explored to gain a holistic view of the issue. While the pros are listed above, let's explore the CONS to know more:

#1. It Breaks Your Child's Trust

(Image Courtesy: Surf Net Parents )

It is essential for a parent to maintain their child's trust on them for greater transparency in the longer run. However, by spying on their internet activities, most parents shatter the trust of their child. Thus, parents must not play with their child's trust to explore the information that they should not know. 

#2. It Could Lead To False Information

(Image Courtesy: Breitbart )

If the child learns about its parent distrust or spying techniques to monitor the child's Internet activities, it could provide false information in the history browser as a form of retaliation for lacking trust. This could be dangerous as the child controls the information that is being exposed to the parents. This way, parents will never get a real picture.

#3. Paranoia Could Be Your Best Friend

(Image Courtesy: Pinterest )

If you are the type of parent that watches crime shows and are aware of the cyber crimes, then you could be left with paranoia. Every activity that your child engages on the internet may not be wrong, but you as a parent will glance through it from the lens of suspicion and look for faults in your child's interest. This could only harm you as an individual.

#4. Invasion of Privacy

(Image Courtesy: Intego )

After a point in time, every child requires its privacy and space. It is something every parent must respect and deliver to develop a healthy relationship with your child. As a parent, you must have faith in your upbringing and allow your child come to you when in distress than acting like a shield that protects the child at all times. 

Do you agree with the pros and cons? Or would you like to add some of your points? Feel free to share your opinions. Comment on the box below to express your views!

(Image Courtesy: Digital Trends )