Texting Teen
- Thread starter OldBlue
- Start date
withrespect
:wr:
My son has used his phone responsibly since middle school - about 5 years now. (well, except for the time he had it out in school & got caught & had to pay the price/consequences for that. :dumbass
He is 17-1/2 and will be a Senior in HS next year. I don't check his phone for anything anymore. I did in MS and 1st year HS. Maybe I *should* but I seriously do not have the time for that kind of thing. I trust him now, but he has shown me over the last few years what his character & nature is and I don't have a reason to mistrust him. He's just a basically good kid with good morals, good character and behaves accordingly.
Of course, he is still a 17-1/2yo teenager, prone to doing stupid pet tricks.
He also knows that I will check if I feel the need to do so and he knows I am a stealth ninja about that sort of thing (checking on him when he least expects it!) so that kind of keeps him in check. The phone is paid for by dad, and we have the understanding that we can and will make it all go away if need be. 
He is 17-1/2 and will be a Senior in HS next year. I don't check his phone for anything anymore. I did in MS and 1st year HS. Maybe I *should* but I seriously do not have the time for that kind of thing. I trust him now, but he has shown me over the last few years what his character & nature is and I don't have a reason to mistrust him. He's just a basically good kid with good morals, good character and behaves accordingly.
Of course, he is still a 17-1/2yo teenager, prone to doing stupid pet tricks.
He also knows that I will check if I feel the need to do so and he knows I am a stealth ninja about that sort of thing (checking on him when he least expects it!) so that kind of keeps him in check. The phone is paid for by dad, and we have the understanding that we can and will make it all go away if need be. 
afjess1989
Amount of F##Ks given, 0
That's why when I was a teenager my parents wanted To go through my phone I said sure and gave it to them. They had the same rule you do so I went and got a prepaid cell phone, I paid the bill so they couldn't go through it.
This is a little unrealistic
I fail to see how that is unrealistic. I can can easily compare what is on the phone to what is online at any time.
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Wenchy
Hot Flash
Spyware is creepy to me. Period.
I didn't realize I was in Oklahoma City, OK on May 17th. I was in a CVS and purchased $121.88 on my Mastercard. I would love to see the receipt. 
I must have been on really good drugs to have been in two places at one time (much less got on a plane...or drove)
Where is OK?!
My credit card has been closed, but it's so scary how people can hack accounts.
UGH.
acommondisaster
Active Member
I think it's a good thing to start when they first get their phones, so that it's just "how things are". The axiom in our house was if you had to hide what you were doing, it was probably wrong in the first place. I don't care if no one else's parents monitor - what teen admits that?
Ain't nobody got time for dat!
Wenchy
Hot Flash
I don't even work and this is true. I do trust my children. I couldn't imagine trying to read all of their emails and texts and being all paranoid and ####.
withrespect
:wr:
Beta
Smile!
This is a little unrealistic
You know that every text is shown on your bill, right? All they have to do is compare the texts to what's on the phone. Granted, if the teen is sending 1000 texts a month, it may be a bit difficult, but someone who is dedicated could certainly manage it, especially if they want to make sure their child isn't doing anything inappropriate.
I never had texts in my day so who knows :shrug:
but rule #1 is don't listen to what your kids say other parents do. Even if it's true, that doesn't make it better. Asking for our advice is always (occasionally?) more prudent.
withrespect
:wr:
I don't think texting came out until I was out of high school and over 18...
Can't remember. 
I remember the first time I got a text, I didn't know what to do with it.
Beta
Smile!
I don't think texting came out until I was out of high school and over 18...
I remember the first time I got a text, I didn't know what to do with it.
none of my college friends texted...then I moved here and EVERYONE texted. I had maybe 100 or 450 a month on my plan. Went over it a few times just from INCOMING texts and had to bump to unlimited
withrespect
:wr:
none of my college friends texted...then I moved here and EVERYONE texted. I had maybe 100 or 450 a month on my plan. Went over it a few times just from INCOMING texts and had to bump to unlimited
That happened to me too. $240.00 for a single phone bill before I changed the plan was 
I plan on doing random phone checks when my children are old enough to have phones, checking text messages and browsing history. That might be 'wrong' of me but my intentions are good. Whether they're well behaved or not, it's just something I plan on starting as soon as they're given phones. There will be no passwords to unlock the phones, unless we're (my husband and I) are given the passcode; otherwise, we'll take the phone. Sorry but you can never be too sure. That said, I don't plan on checking them often but they'll know I'm serious when I ask for their phone and if there's a hesitation....lord help them!