Teen Privacy Debate

Where’d you hear that, the Internet? “Contrary to what some may believe, the teens actually had a high level of privacy awareness,” (Ackerman). This quote is referring to a study done on twenty adolescents and their privacy when it comes to electronics, parents, and school. Most adults tend to think their child does not think before they text, tweet, post, or send. However, this is untrue. Yes, teens are less mature, and less responsible; but that does not make them stupid. And yes, teens should have the reigns held fast by their parents; but once in a while it is okay to cut them some slack. As it is in everything, teens do not have the same rights as adults do. But it is unfair to a teen, or anyone for that matter, to invade their privacy just because the Internet said to. Online and technology-related activities are where parents become the most protective. Parents believe that their child is incompetent in making safe decisions on the Internet; so they go to extensive measures to insure that they do. However teens do, in fact, have a high level of awareness for their individual privacy, (Ackerman). Teens are not just ready and willing to give away personal information, (Ackerman). Teens are worried about what people will think of them. From the school hallways, to the dinner table, teens are always trying to impress the people around them. So why would any teen be willing to jeopardize their hard-earned reputation for something they posted on the Internet? The simple answer; they wouldn’t. If a teen has a secret they would not tell their parents, it seems unreasonable to assume that they would post it on the Internet. If something is suspected of a child, they should be approached openly. They need to be shown that they are trusted. When teens trust, they tell. Studies have shown that 50% of parents use parental controls to maintain or block Internet usage, behind the backs of their teens, (“Parents, Teens, and Online privacy”). Some parents even forge

Cited: Ackerman, Kate. “Teenagers, Social Media and Health Information Privacy.” iHealthBeat. 2011 California HealthCare Foundation. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. Scouter, David. “Students Have Rights Preventing Schools From Conducting Unwarranted Searches.” Teens and Privacy. Ed. Noel Mernio. Deroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Current Controversies. Rpt. From “Safford Unified School District #1 v, April Redding.” 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 1 Feb. 2013. “Teens and Privacy.” Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Gale, Cengage Learning, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.