How do I stop my daughter from using myspace?

Question

I do not want my daughter using myspace IM`s How do I stop her from using it?/

Answer 1

There are software tools to monitor / restrict your child's access to the internet. Here's what I use:

Cybersitter (http://www.cypersitter.com). A $40 program that filters out "bad sites." It's configurable by category and you can also restrict certain sites (such as MySpace). I also use it to block all internet access after during certain hours.

Spector Pro (http://www.spectorsoft.com) A $100 program that monitors everything your child does on the computer. It has screen captures, sites accesses, keystroke monitor, etc.

eBlaster (http://www.spectorsoft.com) A $70 add-on to Spector Pro that emails the activity to you. It also copies you on chats and emails that your child sends out.

This may seem like overkill. The Cybersitter program does a great job filtering. The other tools are monitoring tools. The Spectorsoft tools were actually mentioned on DateLine during the "To Catch A Preditor" episodes (where old men are trying to have sex with underage kids).

I have clearly communicated to my kids that I am monitoring their use. I am doing this not because I don't trust them (but this will help keep them honest) but because I don't trust what others might do. I've also communiacated that they can come to me with any issue-- no matter how embarassing. This software setup merely allows me to do my job as a parent without having to be in the same room when my child is using the computer.

Answer 2

You don't mention your daughter's age other than her being a teenager. As the parent of a grown daughter and three grandchildren, I think spying on your daughter is a shame. If you have faith in her and her abilities to know right from wrong, you should have no need to snoop into her myspace. It is like reading someone's personal diary. Most likely she has many friends of both genders on there. Tell her of your concerns. Ask her if she minds if you go there to read her blogs. Tell her you are interested in what she is doing and want only the best for her. Ask for reassurance that the amount of time she is spending on there is being spent honorably. As for going directly there and doing it behind her back, be prepared for her distrust of you in the future. After reading your addition to this question, you and your daughter obviously have some issues more serious than just myspace. I also suggest counseling. You certainly could use it and some good parenting skills.

Answer 3

WHy would you want to prevent this? Myspace, when used APPROPRIATELY can be a great way for your daughter to keep in touch with her friends.

The trick is that you must supervise her and ensure she is being safe by not giving out her personal information online.

One of the things parents do that causes a HUGE problem in child rearing is that instead of being involved in their children's lives, they try to LIMIT the activities their children can participate in.

The thought is "I'll just take away Myspace." instead the thought SHOULD BE "i'll have an open and honest dialogue with my child about the dangers that come from the internet. I'll be sure to monitor where she goes online. I'll be sure to be aware of who she speaks with online."

THAT is real parenting.

Get active and talk to your daughter instead of just cutting her off entirely. You'll have a better relationship with her in the long run.

Answer 4

talk to her about it. she will be much more open to talk about it with you and share her opinions then find out that you dont trust her. as long as she is using myspace responsibly and not talking to anyone that she shouldn't be and not posting racey photos then she should be fine. but this is really a discussion that you and your daughter should sit down and talk about. just because you hear rare cases that children are meeting strangers, etc. doesn't mean that the majority of children are. hope that helps.

Answer 5

Tell her how much you trust her and how you trust her on the computer not goint to sites like Myspace. (guilt trip her) or give her her own computer and tell her she has earned it from you trusting her not going on sites like myspace. If you find out then she is going on myspace take the computer away and tell her that she has to earn your trust back. Also she can not go to any of her friends house or they come over until she earned you trust again.

Answer 6

Change your HOSTS file so that myspace is redirected to 127.0.0.1.

Google it for more info.

Also, check out blocking via firewall or in your routers config (if it has the capability)

Answer 7

Kenneth H had the best answer;

Adding to it, you can find the HOSTS file by doing a 'search' on your PC for that file name.

Follow the format described in the text file; if you set the IP for that website to 127.0.0.1, you are telling the PC to find that website by going to ITSELF - a sneaky and effective solution to block any website you find objectionable. Needless to say, the site will fail to be located.

Answer 8

First show her a movie called "The Corporation" with particular focus on the Fox News segment.

Next watch a movie with her called "Outfoxed".

Finally ask her if she >really< wants to entrust Rupert Murdoch with her personal information file as well as her online usage profile, list of friends, photos, etc. etc. ....

Answer 9

You can block it on your home computer, but she'll still do it at school, the library, her friends house.......

Treat it the same way you would anything else you prohibit (smoking, staying out late, cow-tipping, etc) She knows the rules, if she's caught, she's grounded.

Answer 10

Take the computer away from her for a certain period of time until she realizes that you are the boss.

Simple as that.

You are the mom. Act like one.