McLaughlin 1

Monson McLaughlin

Ms. Woelke

ERWC

13 April, 2018

Teens Right to Privacy Revision

Privacy is the one common thing that teenagers want and need. Teens desire freedom to

do what they want without the constant bombardment of their parents. This is a normal part of

growing up and must be managed to an extent by the parents. We are in the technology age

where you can access anything on the internet from the click of a button, which is a whole issue

within itself. Teenagers should not have the same privacy rights as adults because they are more

likely to take potential damaging risks and make poor decisions without really understanding the

consequences of their actions. Furthermore, too much privacy can also lead to a safety issue,

misconduct, and inappropriate behavior.

Most parents feel like they should monitor their children’s lives and guide them so they

don’t make unnecessary mistakes resulting in damaging consequences. Parents are legally

responsible for their children as teens; therefore, certain parameters should exist to protect the

teens from themselves and outside influences. Teens are more inclined to take risks and make

poor choices that have lasting consequences. All parents should have the knowledge of what

their kids are doing on the internet up to a certain age. For example, when the mother, Jill Ross,

found out that “ her 16 year old daughter” had set up her own video channel using the camera on

her laptop” (Sengupta 1) It did not sit well knowing that her daughter was doing things she didn’t

approve of behind her back. Sometimes immaturity leads to risky behavior and some teens can’t
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see the potential harm that this sort of behavior could cause. For example, drawing the attention

of an unwanted stalker is a dangerous reality. Of course, parents need to step in, review their

teen’s social media content, discuss their personal choices.This is one critical safeguard that

helps them to make responsible decisions rather than lasting mistakes. In the Algonquin school

district “parents complained recently that the elementary school students could access

pornography on their tablets” (Black 4). The amount of privacy that not just teens, but kids in

general have, due to the lack of security and/or filters is shocking . Consequently, the school has

put the responsibility on the parent’s shoulders to monitor their devices provided by the school

and this includes security firewalls. We know that elementary aged are easily influenced,so,

leaving them without parental controls in place is just irresponsible. Kids must be monitored and

have limited privacy, otherwise in many cases, it can lead to poor viewing choices and

preventable risks.

It has been proven over and over again that too much independence and privacy has led

to misconduct and inappropriate behavior. In many instances, “because of the concerns about

cyberbullying, schools often discipline students for their online postings, even if they are made

outside of school” (Privacy Rights for Teenagers). Schools have the right to have access to social

media accounts when there is speculation of illegal or harmful activity. Even though teens have

privacy rights, parents and schools should help to draw the line on what’s too far. One huge

mistake parents make is “letting go to early” and abandoning their children before they are able

to make responsible decisions or learn from the ones they make (The Center For Parenting

Education). There has been software that “detects suspect words and phrases, which may then be

analyzed by a worker who looks for the context...most concern profanity, but some refer to
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bullying and more serious offenses” (Barnes 7). A lot of teens hide behind the privacy of their

screens and don’t know who they are hurting or whether or not what they are saying is

inappropriate. This cyber-bullying can cause serious emotional and psychological harm,

damaged self-esteem, which could lead some teens to suicide. It also could lead to legal issues

and possible student suspension. As a prevention, kids need to be educated to help them

understand the undesirable effects and consequences of their choices. Also, children do not

deserve the privacy rights that adults have because teens are more likely to post offensive or

inappropriate content.

Many argue that teenagers deserve to have the same rights to privacy that adults expect.

The rational is that teenagers need space to experience life without the burden of a “helicopter

parent” (Paul 7). Parents often don’t know when they need to let their kids out of the nest and

experience life on their own which causes harm to trust in a relationship. Some teens also

complain that their parents are always looking through their private information. However,

teenagers should not have a right to complete privacy because the children are still dependant on

their parents and the parents are still responsible for them (Parents’ and Teens’ Perspectives on

Privacy In a Technology-Filled World). A study at Carnegie Mellon University explains that

teens financial dependence on their parents minimizes their right to complete privacy. Teens

need to learn from their own mistakes, but parents are there to help guide them and make sure

they are safe.

In this generation, everything revolves around technology so children and especially

teens need to understand that their parents want to protect them and giving them all the rights in

the world isn’t necessarily the best route to take. Adults have to keep tabs on what their kids are
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doing on the devices and in their personal lives while still giving them some personal space.

When teens are alone or in their rooms with their doors closed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that

they are up to no good, but there are distinct lines between privacy and monitoring. Even though

privacy is a huge issue, there must be trust implemented otherwise a child’s behavior can be

negatively affected. Most teenagers aren’t prepared for the real world and need that support from

their parents to help them prepare for future responsibilities.

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Works Cited

Black, Lisa. “Big Teacher Is Watching.” ​Chicago Tribune​. 28 Sep. 2014: 1.​ SIRS Issues

Researcher​. Web 01 May. 2016

Cranor, Lorrie Faith, Adam L. Durity, Abigail Marsh, and Blase Ur. "Parents’ and Teens’

Perspectives on Privacy In a Technology-Filled World." ​Unisex.org​. Carnegie Mellon

University. Web. 03 May. 2016.

“ Fact Sheet 21a: Children’s Safety on the Internet.” Children’s Safety on the Internet. Privacy

Rights Clearinghouse, June 1998. Web. 03 May. 2016

Paul, Pamela. “Cyberparenting and the Risk of T.M.I.” ​New York Times.​ 05 May 2013: ST.8.

SIRS​ ​Issues Researcher​. Web. 19 Apr. 2015

ProQuest Staff. “At Issue: Privacy Rights for Teenagers.” ​ProQuest​ LLC. 2015: n.pag. ​SIRS

Issues Researcher​. Web. 02 May 2016

Sengupta, Somini. “‘Big Brother’? No It’s Parents.” ​New York Times​. 26 Jun. 2012: A.1. ​SIRS

Issues Researcher​. Web. 02 May 2016

“Teen's Privacy: Balance Is the Key.” ​The Center for Parenting Education​,

centerforparentingeducation.org/library-of-articles/riding-the-waves-of-the-teen-years/teens-priv

acy-balance-key/.