KC Parent: How far should you go to respect your teen’s privacy?

Teens by nature crave independence and privacy. As parents, how far should we go to respect their privacy while still ensuring they’re making sound decisions?

“The goal is for teens to gradually assume more responsibility for their own judgment about things,” says Dr. Rochelle Harris, clinical psychologist, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Mercy. “This isn’t clear cut—like when they turn 16, you get off of their Facebook or Instagram. It’s really more of making sure those foundations of communication are there.”

Determining how much oversight tweens or teens require often depends on their level of maturity, their friends and their personality. Maturity can vary greatly, especially in the middle school years.

Where one tween might not have put away her dolls completely, another might be more keyed into social issues and sexual experimentation in middle school—which means you’ll need to have a stronger handle on what’s happening in her social circle.

“Who our kids hang out with will determine who they become,” says Tom Kersting, psychotherapist and author of Disconnected: How to Reconnect Our Digitally Distracted Kids.

As our kids get older, we may be less likely to know their friends’ parents and how much wiggle room they give their kids. While your teen will try to make you feel as if you’re the lone drill sergeant compared to his friends’ parents, stand firm about what you think is appropriate for your child.

“Our job as parents is to make sure our kids are safe and doing the right things,” Kersting says.

No mysteries. As soon as your child has access to any digital device, create a “digital citizenship contract” (check online for examples) to make your expectations for online behavior and your house rules crystal clear.

Establish sensible consequences to help your kids learn from their mistakes. For example, rather than taking away their phone for two months, set tighter limits like less daily phone time and increased oversight from you until they prove they’re responsible enough to handle it.

“A month later, if something similar happens, you do the same thing,” Harris says.

Strike a healthy balance by setting a curfew for when all electronics are turned off each evening.

“Nothing good happens at 12:30 on a school night if your teen has her phone in her room,” Harris says.

Besides sleep deprivation, research suggests that the more time a teen spends online, the more likely she’ll experience cyberbullying. A study presented to the American Public Health Association also finds that “hyper-networkers,” or teens who spend three or more hours a day on social networking sites, were 84 percent more likely to have used illicit drugs and three and a half times more likely to have had sex.

Inquiring minds want to know. Teens are likely to shut you out if you get too nosy. Instead, ask “naive” questions to get them thinking critically about issues that can happen online and in their social circles. For example:

“I’m hearing a lot about cyberbullying. What does that look like?”

“If someone says something nasty and you push ‘like’ on it, does that mean you’re part of that bullying or are you saying you like that person? What does that mean?”

“Use that as an opportunity to talk about the fundamentals of communication,” Harris says. “Don’t text a friend when you’re upset. Don’t spread gossip—it may make you feel like you’re connected with someone, but it isn’t really the way to connect and it can be very hurtful.”

And ask if they’d be comfortable with someone they love and respect, like Grandma, seeing what they’ve posted on their Snapchat account.

When to pry. Tell your kids that you’ll be checking their social media content and text messages.

“If kids know that their parent is going to be looking through their stuff, they’re less likely to get themselves in a pickle somewhere with inappropriate content or privates sites where they're talking to people from all over the country,” Kersting says.

Some areas of a kid’s life should be off-limits, like bedrooms and private journals, say most experts.

“The only exception to this is if you are concerned for their safety. In that case, well-being trumps privacy,” says therapist Lisa Ruff, LMSW, who counsels children, teens and adults at her private practice in Leawood.

Before snooping through his room, talk to your teen to see whether you can figure out why he seems troubled. Consult with your child’s physician if you notice changes in behavior, school avoidance, changes in diet or sleep or withdrawal from favorite activities, family and friends.

Read the full article via KC Parent.

Learn more about The Division of Developmental and Behavioral Sciences at Children's Mercy.