Do you think parents should allow teenagers to have a computer with internet in their room?

Answer 1

As a general rule, no, but it depends on the kid and the situation.

Our older son had one in his room at 17 and his grades went down. We threatened to remove it if the grades didn't improve and they did.

Our 13 year old son also wants one in his room (mainly because his brother has one) but I am not convinced that it's a good idea. He has already been caught on the family computer going to sites where he's not supposed to be and where he has been told not to go, so I don't think he's old enough for the responsibility.

If you have doubts, don't do it. Keep your family computer in a public room where you can keep an eye on things. If you trust your child, then go ahead with it but it won't do any harm to stick your head in there once in a while unannounced just to keep them on their toes.

My feeling is that you are the parent and they are the child, and there's too much out there that's bad for them. But again it depends on the child.

Best wishes.

Answer 2

I don't think it's a "should" or "shouldn't" question because every family is different and I wouldn't tell another family how to do it or what is right for them.

For us, unattended internet just doesn't seem appropriate. We don't put TV in the kids rooms and I'm not sure about a computer. If we decide to put a computer in their room at some point it will definitely be without internet. If they want to use the internet, they will need to do it in the common room, just like the rest of us.

Answer 3

NO! Internet predators target lonely kids, alone in their room with no one to guard them. The computer should be where the rest of the family spends most of their time, whether that be the living room, kitchen table, or whatever. Parents should always be near at hand when the kid is using the computer, & should monitor everything they do while on the computer. Does Columbine ring a bell? One vigilant parent can save the lives of more than their own child.

Answer 4

All I can say is wow, the answers to this question from parents is astounding, some of you take the time to look at everything your child has done online? You probably won't let your child date until they're sixteen. In the next four years I'm sure you'll wonder why your kids are so messed up because they shot their friends. You'll try to blame it anything you consider bad. My god, it must've been Marilyn Manson, and those homosexuals they're the reason my kid killed himself. I'm sure that's what you'll think until twenty years down the line you realize that you failed as a parent by not trusting your children whatsoever. I hope find yourself happy never being able to trust your children. Asshole.

Answer 5

The older my kids get (they are almost 7 and 10.5) I think no. I've seen too many bad things that kids can get involved with on the internet on TV news shows. The computer needs to be where its use can be monitored by the parents.

Answer 6

No, if they use the computer they can use the one that the whole family uses, whether it be in the office or living room. Too many weirdos out there online- I'd like to keep an eye on my teen.

Answer 7

I have my own it is a laptop Im on it right now. My parents trust me a lot and they allways check to make sure I don't have a myspace. I don't like being in my room anyway. I prefer being on my computer downstairs. I only sleep in my room. I guess it depends on the teenager. and whether thay like their room.

Answer 8

i will probably let my kids have computer with internet in their room once they become teenagers. i will also but up a blocker to block a lot of stuff they shoulden't get into, as well as look on their computer from time to time just to make sure.

Answer 9

Sure, why not?
They can get access almost everywhere, get drugs everywhere, booze everywhere, porn everywhere. Restriction is not a solution. I let my kids make their own decisions, I've educated them to make the right choices. They're adults now (or close to) and I don't regret my decision.

But I give you that it's a lot easier not to educate them, not to care and put everything under locks.
Education takes a lot of personal time, dedication, effort and care. If you can't take your son for a walk and have a (real) conversation with him, you're doing it wrong.

Answer 10

Well, I'm going to be instantly hated on this post but our kids DO have their own computers and internet (all 3 of them- ages 13, 11, and 10) and we spy on them like you wouldn't believe. I go in about once every 2 days and check to see where they've been, what they've been seeing, who they chat with- it's all logged in the mainframe. And I check their email boxes regularly. We told them when we hooked it up that we reserved the right to look at anything they looked at and we do- regularly. We've only had 1 problem in the last year and that's when my step-son was at his mom's house (not ours) and I checked his email from MY mom's house (I was on vacation visiting family) and some hussy was emailing him about being her boyfriend- well, the picture sure didn't look like someone who'd be interested in a then 12 year old boy... so we got her blocked and talked to my step-son about it. It was probably some sweaty man in disguise trying to lure him to the mall or something. He hasn't had a problem since. He never contacted the person again and we haven't heard from "it" either. It's not really about trusting our kids because, clearly my step-son will follow hormones before our advice, but it's about being clever enough to catch something that COULD happen before it does. Besides, they can have the same access at the library with less supervision if they wanted it.