Originally posted in our previous blog by:

Jeff Cooper
re: ABC on Spyware
Mon Jun 5, 2006 11:10AM

Here is what I wrote to ABC regarding their upcoming special on software that allows parents to track how their kids use the computer:

Dear ABC,

I am a father of three (my oldest is 11) and I am very aware of where he goes and what he does online. However, I'm not about to use any sort of spyware to surreptitiously track his movements. My reasons are varied.

Tracking software presupposes a lack of trust between parent and child and it is very difficult to go back. Indeed, this is a 'last resort' approach to what should have happened long ago.

Parents and their children should definitely have a relationship where the parent knows where the child is going online and who they are communicating with. This does not mean that they have to know everything or read or have access to every conversation.

My son knows that I can access his email accounts and that there have been consequences when he has used the Internet inappropriately. So far, this has happened only once.

Aside from exacerbating trust issues between parent and child, spyware will not resolve the problems for several reasons. First, it may resolve what your child does on their home computer. However, since an atomosphere of mistrust has already been built, it is clear that the child will do what they can to circumvent their parent. All they will need to do is login from a friend's (or library, etc.) computer. They'll see this as "beating their parent" much the same that students who use proxies at school to circumvent filters feel they have beaten the system.

Bottom line, accentuating the negative will not lead to positive results. Parents need to help guide their children to using the Internet positively. There are millions of sites where kids could learn, or become part of a socially responsible global generation. Check out Takingitglobal, Nabuur, Tapped In or Global SchoolHouse. There is a world of good things out there... stressing the negative will only bring out more negatives.

In the immortal words of Donald “Oddball” Sutherland from the movie “Kelly’s Heroes”:

“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?”

Regards,

Jeff Cooper
Education Technology Support Consultant