do teens deserve privacy?

Question

when it comes to their room?

oh no, i'm not a parent, just a curious teen

Answer 1

Only while they're dressing. If they're not doing anything wrong, then they don't need to be secretive.

Answer 2

I think teens have to earn a right to privacy (sorry, it's the best way I can put it). Basically, if there is no reason for a parent to think that their teen is getting up to anything or is in any trouble, then they shouldn't be snooping. But if they have a reason to believe something is wrong, then it is (in my book) ok, to look for clues about what that might be (I'm assuming that the teen in question isn't talking about whatever problem they might have). Only in the most dire 'Something is wrong I know it, she needs my help but isn't talking about it I'm afraid she might be selling her body for drug money!' emergency should the sanctity of the diary be violated.

So basically, if a teen is not showing any signs of anything other than the normal teenage angst, there isn't a reason to go through his/her stuff. Teens can help with this by keeping their rooms clean enough that parents don't feel the need to clean it themselves.

Answer 3

A teen's room does deserve privacy. However, the parent is paying the mortgage for the whole house...which means the teen needs to consider the value of keeping a room relatively clean & the room should be decorated in a way that dosn't offend the values of the home. Cockroaches devalue the resale value of a home. Satanic decorations may not contribute to the moral values of the family.

As a mother, I have told my kids that if their room isn't picked up by a certain date (I give them about a week), I'll clean it myself & when I throw out the trash I've collected, they won't miss a thing. By the time our third child became aware of this "opportunity for a free room cleaning" he truely believed it because his sister and brother said I'd really do it. My 15 year old has a relatively decent room & it gets picked up periodically.

As long as I take the responsibility seriously to train my teen to be independent and responsible, ready to face the world after high school graduation, I need to be there when I'm needed, but learn to back off when my "control" is not needed any more. It's a fine line that parents are constantly struggling with...

Give your parents a break.They have to know when it's time to cut their teen loose... love them deeply, but let them find out by their own experiences, the hard lessons of life.

Answer 4

Everyone has a right to privacy, but there are always limitations. Adults have to share information, like annual income, with the government, and at any time they can dig into personal records. With teens, you deserve a certain amount of privacy too, but at the same time are living in someone else's house for free. This is where the parent has the responsibility to determine where that boundary lies. Its a best judgment situation where no black and white line can be drawn.

Answer 5

I think teens deserve a semi-private room...yes. You should make it clear to them that when they are actively 'in' the room, they will have privacy.
My policy is:
Door is left open if friends are over, especially friends of the opposite sex.
No physical contact with a girl in my house (i have a son and feel when that stuff starts happening it is time for them to get their own place )
That if I smell alcohol, smoke of any kind, or feel something inappropriate is going on in there...that I will come in without hesitation. ( common sense here is that a teenager does need alone time once in awhile, and i dont want to know what is going on in there...lol )
That I get to come in and make sure the room is cleaned to my specifications. Inspections happen about once a week.

As long as he doesnt test me on those ...he has all the privacy he wants. We really never have any issues over this. He knows the rules and respects my home, and as long as it stays that way, I'm happy.

Answer 6

Yes we do. I am 19 years old and Ive always shared my room. It really sucks. Sometimes I just wanna be alone, listen to music and relax. But, can't do that!! So, I realized every teen needs their own privacy once in a while at least.

Answer 7

Privacy is a by-product of trust. Has that been compromised? Basically it's a case by case home by home
basis. Most parents know whether their child should get privacy or not.

Answer 8

Yes,to a degree. if you have people in of the opposite sex,then the door must stay open. if i smell pot smoke i will search the room and talk with you about it, if you act weirdly i will ask you about your actions. then search for drugs.if something was stolen next door.like a stereo and i hear music i will see if you took it.Its a parents responsibility to keep up with there children and train them and raise them in a proper manner.that's why there's so many crimes and murders by young people is that there parents didn't train them right.my mother overdid it once and took my hippie type shirt she didn't like and i found it after she died.hidden in a closet.she found some pot in a plastic baggy. i had. and was going to flush it, but i told her it cost forty dollars and i was going to smoke it no matter. so she helped me dry it out in the oven.she didnt want me to waste money even if it was for pot.she had washed my coat and it got wet.I sure miss her
Peace

Answer 9

If they are trustworthy then yes, but it should be treated as a privilege and not a right.

Teens are almost adults but have a lot to learn still, even though they think they don't. I know, I was a teen and remember how I was and if I knew then what I know now, life would have been much easier and much more fun.

Answer 10

To a certain, extent yes. But, parents will always have parental authority over you, until you reach the age of majority.

Answer 11

Yes everyone does. Parents need to say to themselves, "Would I want them going through my room?"
Unless their child is in any danger, they should respect their privacy.