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Rethinking IM Privacy For Kids

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the extra-safe-society dept.

mackles writes, "Now that the world has read the despicable instant messages from Rep. Foley, should parents take a second look at monitoring their kids' IMs? After all, it was IM logging that exposed the scandal; would we have found out otherwise? Cost is not an issue, there are free monitoring tools. Should parents tell their kids before they monitor? Parents and their tech-savvy kids are at odds on the topic. From the article: 'As many as 94 percent of parents polled this summer by the research firm Harris Interactive said they've turned to Web content filters, monitoring software, or advice from an adult friend to keep electronic tabs on their children.' The article quotes one 18-year-old as saying, 'A lot of kids are smarter than adults think.'"

9 of 507 comments (clear)

  1. Anything on the router level? by dspyder · · Score: 3, Funny

    My kids are smart enough to check what's running on their PC. Can I install a logger on my WRT54G (running hyperWRT + Thibor 15c firmware)?

    1. Re:Anything on the router level? by Odin's+Raven · · Score: 5, Funny
      My kids are smart enough to check what's running on their PC. Can I install a logger on my WRT54G (running hyperWRT + Thibor 15c firmware)?

      Yes, dad, the 54G can do logging. Actually that's probably better than the silly keylogger Judy and I have been using against you and mom for the past year. (BTW, having 'g0d' as your admin password is really lame - we didn't even need the keylogger to figure that out. :P I'll walk you through the firmware update after I get home from band practice.

      Your loving son, Jack

      P.S. Do not let Judy do the install - she's bound to get the interface names reversed and broadcast the log files to the universe. (If you don't believe me, ask her why that botnet attacked our computer last fall. I told her the target IP was the first param, not the second one, but did Little Miss 31337 listen to me? Of course not.)

      --
      A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores.
    2. Re:Anything on the router level? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      And what is this "outrage of 'Cell phones'" you speak of, and why did you put "Cell phones" in quotes?

      I imagine he did it so he could split the replies into people who wanted to nitpick grammar and punctuation and people who wanted to discuss his point.

      His point apparently being thus: "If you aren't part of your kids lives, and activities, you get what comes easy. Trouble and more trouble."

      Now, get off his lawn! *waves grandparent poster's thumpin' stick* Damn posters.
    3. Re:Anything on the router level? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Dear Mom:

      Your meatloaf bites.

      -YourSon!root@your.box.net

  2. Re:Age and treachery... by Frymaster · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill"

    obviously said by an adult!

    --

    2 1337 4 u!

  3. Re:Should you tell your kids? by Trillan · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not that I disagree with telling kids about spying, but if you've raised your children so their response is to "lock and load," you have much bigger problems.

  4. Re:Damn kids! Get off my lawn! by Peter+Trepan · · Score: 4, Funny

    More accurately: Kids use surprising ingenuity in achieving their stupid objectives.

    --

    Step into a huge movement. Don't Tread In Me.

  5. Re:blah blah blah by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 3, Funny
    ... responsibility blah blah blah .... kids blah blah blah

    Dang.... that's exactly how my parents sounded when I was a kid.
    --
    Only to idiots, are orders laws.
    -- Henning von Tresckow
  6. Re:Revolutionary Idea by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're right. As part of the conversation, it is absolutely vital that you instruct your kids not to talk to politicians.