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The teenage years are a seemingly constant struggle between parents and teens. Teens are struggling to establish their own identity and autonomy while parents are trying to protect their still vulnerable teenage children.

As part of this, parents need to respect their childrens' rights to privacy. Being a guardian and constant supervisor is not the correct way to help your children gain a sense of right and wrong. Instead, this may encourage them to deceive you or seek elsewhere to be independent because they cannot gain this autonomy.

Instead, a more productive way for both parents and teens to deal with this issue is a simple discussion and freedom of conversation. Make children aware of what is safe and what isn't safe on the internet. Encourage them to approach you first on any questions about what is and isn't good judgment. By creating a relationship where teens feel they can interact with parents, the teen will grow and achieve the autonomy necessary for success in the adult world while the parent can feel comfortable allowing their children freedom online. Treat your teenager like an adult and trust them, and it may be surprising that they begin to act like a trustworthy adult. The solution is not complete access and supervision.

Learn more about this author, CJ R.
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