Being a parent is never an easy task, especially when done with care. Every generation of parents has different difficulties and obstacles in making decisions they feel are best for their kids.
For example, parents now face challenges that were not faced by their predecessors. Along with the widespread use of smartphones and the continuous discussions on appropriate screen time, the internet plays a big role.
You can anticipate that any conversation about parental choices will lead to heated arguments. Consider North Carolina mother Laura Muse, who caused a stir on the internet a few years ago when she acknowledged looking into her children’s phones to keep tabs on their chats and activities.
It’s getting harder for parents to keep their kids away from smartphones in the modern world. As they become older, children are well aware that phones have become a part of almost every part of life.
It’s a good idea to wait as long as possible before granting your child a smartphone, but it’s also quite normal to want to monitor how they use their newfound internet access.
But where does exercising parental caution cross the boundary into violating a child’s right to privacy?
In 2022, a mother’s open assessment of her vigilance over her children and their smartphones generated a heated internet discussion. North Carolina resident Laura Muse revealed that she regularly checks her kids’ phones, claiming she has the right to do so because she pays for them.
Laura wants to stop her adolescent children, who are 17 and 15, from staying up late browsing on their phones, so she makes them give them up their phones every night before bed.
“I own their phones; I pay for the phones,” Laura said in a New York Post interview. I can look through them at any time. This may seem impolite or like a privacy invasion to some, but this is how I manage my home.
Mom establishes the rules.
When her children turned eleven, Laura said, she started doing weekly checks, a habit that has continued into adolescence. She revealed that although she believes in her kids, she thinks it’s crucial to make sure they aren’t using their phones for inappropriate purposes and to be on the lookout for potential predators and internet scammers.
According to a 41-year-old mental health professional, she once found out that her kid had posted a shirtless picture of himself online.
“We talk about it and use it as a learning opportunity when I find something concerning,” she said. “I don’t expect my children to be perfect, and neither am I, but it’s important to be aware of what’s happening.”
Some online detractors contend that Laura’s degree of parental supervision violates privacy, despite the fact that many others think her approach is appropriate.
A video of a mother looking through her child’s phone was met with disgust from many TikTok viewers.
“This isn’t right,” said one commentator.
“You shouldn’t be going through her phone,” said a different commenter.
“I can’t stand parents who disregard boundaries,” said a third participant, expressing their disgust.
Gillian Margonis, a TikToker, received 5.6 million views in 2022 for a video in which she criticized parents for inspecting their kids’ phones.
She said, “[Your phone] is your own private space, just like your room, and they shouldn’t be looking through it because you deserve privacy.”
What do you think about this matter? Do Laura and other parents have the right to look through their children’s smartphones? Post your thoughts in the comments section!
