Should Parents Spy on their Teens?

It’s completely unheard of that a teenager doesn’t own a smartphone these days. We are living in an age of technology. The world has become a global village. Everyone is connected to each other through the internet. No one can deny that it has made our lives better and easier. 

But if you think that it didn’t come with disadvantages, you couldn’t be more wrong. The internet has exposed people especially teenagers to various dangers. Parents are more concerned than ever about the safety of their kids. 

Where are they? Are they safe? Are they doing drugs or drinking alcohol? Have they gotten themselves into a dangerous situation? Such questions plague the parents. In this case, tracking apps seem like an appropriate solution. You just have to install a tracking app on your teenager’s smartphone and know their whereabouts every moment of the day.

But is it really such a good idea? Are you not violating the privacy of your teenagers by spying on them? Here are some pros and cons every parent should keep in mind before spying on their teens.

Pros

Spy software and apps have many benefits. Here’s how it helps parents in parenting.

Less Worry for Parents

When parents know how to locate a phone at one click, it makes them less worried and anxious. Since they are aware of the location of their teenagers, they have more peace of mind. Knowing your teenager is at school when he or she should be and not at some questionable place, you can give them more freedom to explore and have fun.

Help them immediately in case of an emergency

Tracking apps are extremely helpful in case of an emergency. If your teen is in some trouble, he or she can send you an SOS and you’ll be able to locate their position immediately. You can send this information to the police as well so they can reach your kid and help him or her. This is especially beneficial if your child has some sort of medical condition. They can let you know when they need help.

Deter your kids from bad activities

It's obvious that teenagers will avoid bad activities if they know their parents can locate them. They will refrain from going to dangerous places or lie about their whereabouts since their parents can track them at any time. If you're concerned about your teenager's behaviour and suspect they may be struggling with alcoholism, it's important to explore local alcoholism rehab options. Seeking professional help from a rehabilitation center can provide your teenager with the support and resources they need to overcome alcohol dependency and lead a healthier life.

Cons

Sure, tracking apps give benefits to parents but it doesn’t to the children. For teenagers, it’s like being chained and imprisoned. It restricts their freedom which is one thing they want more than anything in this phase of life.

Broken trust between parent and child

If your teen knows you’re tracking their every movement, they’ll realize that you don’t trust them. Not only will they blame you for violating their privacy but also get involved in more dangerous activities on purpose. This destroys the relationship between parents and children and results in more conflicts at home.

Hinders the Growth of Teens

Teenagers grow into adults by experiencing various things. When they’re exposed to different scenarios, they learn how to deal with things. It makes them more independent and streetwise. However, if they live a sheltered life, never gaining any experience, it hinders their growth and makes it difficult for them to fit in. 

Clever Teenagers can use it against their parents

Not to mention that teenagers are clever, they can use the tracking app against their parents. All they have to do is leave their smartphone at a friend’s house and go off to some party with drugs and alcohol. 

Verdict

We’ve established that tracking or spying apps have pros as well as cons. Parents shouldn’t use them blindly. It should depend on particular circumstances as well as the mutual consent of the parents and teenagers whether or not to use them.

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