PART 5: Parenting, Privacy and Control


Parents are challenged in managing their kids’ media use and are anxious about online predators, what their kids post online, and whether their kids are engaging in harmful online behavior. Use these questions with the program chapters The Child Predator Fear and Private Worlds Outside Parents' Reach?   Note: More information about this topic is available in the Growing Up Online Viewing Guide for Parents.

 

5.1. In the program, we see parents who are actively monitoring teens’ online use and other parents who are not. What factors play a role in whether or not a parent will be involved in monitoring teens’ online media use? From your point of view, what forms of involvement are most useful? Least useful?

 

5.2. Shows like "To Catch a Predator" on Dateline NBC contribute to parental anxiety about online media. What elements of this FRONTLINE program are likely to increase parents’ fears? What elements of the program might be reassuring?

 

5.3. Evan Skinner e-mailed parents in her community after she learned about the photos taken when her son and other students went to a rock concert and got drunk. Ryan Halligan’s dad contacted the parent of another teen whose Web site was full of suicidal thoughts and feelings. Why did they do this? What are some consequences of reaching out to other parents to share concerns?