Can someone please help me out? I'm 16 years old and my parents gave me a computer for christmas. They say that because they paid for it they can watch every thing that I do on it. Now, I'm not doing anything wrong. But, I hate not having any privacy. It drives me crazy when I come home and my computers on and the history bar is open. It's such a huge invasion of privacy! So, my question is; is it legal for my parents to go through all of my files and look at what I've been doing? And if it is, is there anything I can do about it?
2007-01-03 12:06:41 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
At 16 you are a minor and your parents are responsible for your well being. When you come of legal age, if you still live in their house, guess what? They still make the rules! When you pay your own way, you make the rules. It's that simple.
2007-01-03 12:37:35 · answer #1 · answered by taxidriver 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure it's legal. You are 16, you live in your parent's house. You are using a computer your parents gave you on internet that you most likely aren't paying for. Of course it's legal, if you actually went digging into "the law" in some states (not sure about all) you'd find that your parents could have you work a partime job but have all of the paychecks sent to them rather than you.
That being said if you really are not doing anything wrong then just leave it be. Your parents will most likely get bored the 50th time they review your history and see that you havent been anywhere. If you do want to be up to no good then you can try using a different browser for your covert operations. IE for email and surfing and firefox with the only shortcut being in some discret folder that you hide so that they dont know that its even on your computer. Delete your history and cookies frequently on your "covert browser" along with temp files overall.
If what your really after is your parents trusting you then my suggestion would be to earn their trust. Get a job, save some money, buy your own computer. If you show that your a responsible person then they will likely give you more privacy.
I don't really see any other way around this. The more you complain about a lack of privacy the more they think your up to no good and will invade it. So either your being honest and you shouldn't care or you do want to be deviant online and you're going to have to hide it.
2007-01-03 12:31:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, your parents CAN legally do that, for several reasons:
1. You are a minor, and as such have no privacy rights against your parents.
2. It seems that your parents gave you the computer on a CONDITION that they will check on your use.
Now, on to solutions. Why not delete the history after each use? It is easy to do and will protect your privacy. You can also visit a couple of "safe" sites like yahoo and hotmail, so that your parent will not guess that you are deleting the history.
2007-01-03 12:48:15 · answer #3 · answered by hq3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are a minor, and have NO expectation of privacy. Your parents on the other hand are legal bound to raise you, protect you, ensure you go to school, feed and house you. They pay a LOT of money for you - just ask them what your share would be of the mortgage, property taxes, water, electric, gas, refuse and other household bills, plus food and clothing. You should do this just so you know what you actually COST them.
So you will obey their rules; you will not be permitted to have privacy on a computer they bought, and they will do their job and protect and raise you.
Frankly, as a teen, you are not required to like your parents; I didn't like mine much either. But they did look out for my best interests, even when I didn't agree with their actions; and I now respect and thank them for that protection and insight.
You can be annoyed if you like; it won't get you anything. But do start saving up for your own future. One day you'll have to buy your own computer, and you'll have to pay your own mortgage and other bills. Then you'll be able to do exactly what you want, because you will be an adult - and you WILL have a right to privacy.
2007-01-03 12:42:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, you can't do a thing! It's their computer, their internet connection, and their liability if you do something wrong with the system.
Get use to it, later when you get a job, if you have computer access at work ... your company will be looking at what you do with your computer on company time.
I did the same thing with my kids when they were teens ... they could go to any website they wanted, as long as they didn't mind doing it in the family room, with the parents walking by almost constantly! Consider your self lucky that you have internet access in your room, show your parents that you are responsible and trustworthy (deleting your history files will not acomplish this!)
Show your parents they can trust you, they might "loosen up" after a while.
2007-01-03 17:10:08 · answer #5 · answered by ornery and mean 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is legal.
You can always unplug the computer and never use it again,or you can abide by the rules of the home in which you live.
The computer is not a legal right, such as providing you with food,clothing and shelter, it is a gift and only a gift and it can be given with any terms your parents so choose.. sorry about that,but if you want to get rid of the computer I know of many places you can donate it to.
2007-01-03 12:23:29 · answer #6 · answered by otter_woman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember that anything that is posted, tweeted, etc. is never every really private. None of it. Someone, somewhere, always has access and can pull up the information. She has no privacy rights from parents, since she is a minor and living under their rules. If they are paying, they get to set the rules. If she does not like it, she can try to emancipate herself, support herself, pay her own rent, buy her own food, do her own laundry, and be 100% responsible for herself. Then, and only then, can she exercise privacy from her parents. But someone, somewhere, will always be able to pull up anything she posts or tweets, etc.
2016-03-29 06:35:28 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Until you are independent, they have that right. And guess what, even after you're 18, they could still demand to check the computer.
So when you become an adult you'll have all the rights they do. But let's say you want to live with them until you're 21. They can ask that in exchange, you don't have sex in the house. Now it is your right, but they are asking that in exchange for room and board you give up that right. At that point it's your choice, keep your right and leave the house or relinquish the right and live in the house.
Just because you have rights doesn't mean that they can't be willfully given up in exchange for something.
But anyway, in your case, you're a minor and they are responsible for you. As long as you are their responsibility, you want retain all the rights that adults have.
2007-01-03 12:20:29 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since you are under the age of 18 your parents have every right to see what you are doing. If you aren't doing anything wrong what is the problem with them looking at your history? If your that worried delete your history before you log off.
2007-01-03 12:30:38 · answer #9 · answered by Bill S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I bet I get some thumbs down but store files in an e-mail account that they don't know you have and your secrets will be password protected and technically not on (their) computer, as for history bar??? Ask a new question, "how do I erase my history bar?" someone will help you, and MIND YOUR PARENTS
2007-01-03 12:16:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋