Apple needs to fix this. It should never have been allowed to get this bad.
They shouldn't be allowed? Who should stop them?
No one is forcing anyone to buy an iPhone, if you don't like it, don't buy one.
Companies should be allowed to make stupid decisions.
I agree. Is anyone surprised that the iPhone (like the iPod, *gasp*) doesn't play Microsoft's music files? Did people really expect the music playing portion of the iPhone (which Apple describes as the "iPod" portion) to operate very differently from the iPod?
Oh, thats a great plan. Wait, no it isn't. The chances are that your kid knows someone who is good with a computer, or they can figure out for themselves how to bypass such a monitor. And besides, by putting that monitor on in the first place, you're showing your complete and total lack of trust. When your kid has an actual problem, guess who they are going to talk to. It won't be you.
Kids have no right to privacy when it comes to areas that can cause them harm.
Thats a really good system, as long as kids live at home with their parents for their entire life. Censoring them really gives them a good experience on how the world works. Then they won't have to find out that the real world isn't all fun and games, it will be your fault. It's like putting your kid in a bubble for the first ten years of his or her life, and then suddenly taking it away. Watch what happens when your kid with no immune system gets sick.
By putting restrictions or limitations on computer/internet/etc usage, you will accomplish nothing. It will signify your lack of trust, which is a bad way to start. Additionally, with even a small amount of computer knowledge, such restrictions are generally easily bypassed.
The same applies to TV filtering. By doing so, right off the bat, you are basically saying there is _no_ trust, and that is a very bad way to go.
That said, it would be a good idea to make sure that he understands what you allow and what you don't, however, long discussions are a bad idea, especially on topics he probably isn't comfortable discussing with you. Remember that he probably knows you won't be happy to catch him downloading illegal music, so repeating it is just annoying. Short and sweet is your best friend.
As for rules/boundaries, several things should be kept in mind. If he spends a lot of time on the computer, so be it. Remind him and encourage him to do other things, but forcing him to not use the computer will just piss him off, and who knows, maybe he'll end up as a computer science major. If he seems to be switching windows every time you walk by, he's probably doing something he shouldn't be doing.
As for punishment, remember that there are a lot worse things that he could be doing than illegally downloading music or watching porn. If you see him downloading music, at least you know he isn't out doing drugs. And if you catch him watching porn, the embarrassment he goes through would be far worse than any punishment you could give.
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Apple needs to fix this. It should never have been allowed to get this bad.
They shouldn't be allowed? Who should stop them? No one is forcing anyone to buy an iPhone, if you don't like it, don't buy one. Companies should be allowed to make stupid decisions.
Cigarette companies are now responsible for your cancer if you smoke
I agree. Is anyone surprised that the iPhone (like the iPod, *gasp*) doesn't play Microsoft's music files? Did people really expect the music playing portion of the iPhone (which Apple describes as the "iPod" portion) to operate very differently from the iPod?
As a 16 yr old, I feel compelled to answer.
By putting restrictions or limitations on computer/internet/etc usage, you will accomplish nothing. It will signify your lack of trust, which is a bad way to start. Additionally, with even a small amount of computer knowledge, such restrictions are generally easily bypassed.
The same applies to TV filtering. By doing so, right off the bat, you are basically saying there is _no_ trust, and that is a very bad way to go.
That said, it would be a good idea to make sure that he understands what you allow and what you don't, however, long discussions are a bad idea, especially on topics he probably isn't comfortable discussing with you. Remember that he probably knows you won't be happy to catch him downloading illegal music, so repeating it is just annoying. Short and sweet is your best friend.
As for rules/boundaries, several things should be kept in mind. If he spends a lot of time on the computer, so be it. Remind him and encourage him to do other things, but forcing him to not use the computer will just piss him off, and who knows, maybe he'll end up as a computer science major. If he seems to be switching windows every time you walk by, he's probably doing something he shouldn't be doing.
As for punishment, remember that there are a lot worse things that he could be doing than illegally downloading music or watching porn. If you see him downloading music, at least you know he isn't out doing drugs. And if you catch him watching porn, the embarrassment he goes through would be far worse than any punishment you could give.