Do You Monitor Your Teens' Internet Activity?

January 5, 2009 published on Examiner.com

How much do you supervise your teens and/or preteens when they are on the internet?

Many serious issues can develop when a child of any age is on the internet unsupervised. For example, cyberbullying, predators, pornography and inappropriate postings on social networking sites are all easy for any teen or preteen to get mixed up in via the Web.  

A recent situation occurred at Farmington’s Warner Middle School, where a student who sent threatening internet messages will face disciplinary action in ten days.

A concerned parent alerted the school to the threat by calling the Principal, Mark Watson. Watson later sent out a notice to parents stating that “police were informed immediately and the building was placed in a classroom lock down for a short time period. At no time was anyone in danger.”

 The district isn’t revealing details about the threat or the student.

 Estralee Michaelson, Director of Safe Schools and Student Services for Farmington Public Schools, is grateful for parents who are on top of the many issues that their children and teenagers can get into over the internet.  

Principal Watson also strongly advises parents and guardians to monitor all online networking Web sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, that children may be involved with. “Please continue to remind children never to write anything threatening or harmful,” advised Watson. 

I agree with both the Principal and the Director of Safe Schools. I have always watched my teenager’s internet activity and Facebook accounts carefully despite their many protests. I could tell you stories about what I have found on there over the years, usually involving their friends posting inappropriate or mean material. 

I also use a program called eblaster.com, which sends me daily reports on the websites my teens visit, and reports on other internet activity.

When I tell people that I do this, many agree that it’s the right thing to do. However, others have strong opinions that children are entitled to more privacy and trust.

In addition to the other issues I mentioned, a lot of material that a young person posts now may come to haunt him or her later. Some of it never goes away, even after it's deleted. There are even companies who will improve online reputations. See how “Employers Use Internet to Research Candidates.”

School takes precaution following Internet threat

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Estralee Michaelson hopes that every parent is alert to situations on Web sites which can cause student safety concerns.

Though Michaelson, who is director of Safe Schools and Student Services for Farmington Public Schools, isn’t revealing details about a Warner Middle School student who will face disciplinary action in 10 days for “a threatening message,” she is grateful for parents who are involved and connected.

“I cannot impress this enough,” Michaelson said.

With school back in session at Warner Middle School Monday morning, Principal Mark Watson received an early call from a concerned parent.

“As school safety and communication remain a priority at Warner, I wish to inform you of an incident that occurred this morning, Jan. 5,” Watson wrote in a Listserv email message to parents.

“Warner administration was informed this morning of a threatening message that was posted yesterday evening on a student’s Internet Web site. Following protocol, police were informed immediately and the building was placed in a classroom lock down for a short time period. At no time was anyone in danger. A joint investigation involving law enforcement and school officials was conducted.”

When the police determined that the situation was safe, the classroom lock down was lifted and school resumed.

Watson strongly advises parents and guardians to monitor all online networking Web sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, that children may be involved with.

“Please continue to remind children never to write anything threatening or harmful,” he advised. “Farmington Public Schools and Farmington Hills Police Department take these matters seriously.”

Michaelson stressed that school safety incidents are disruptive to student learning. School officials declined to describe the nature of the threat or information about the student who posted it.

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