TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Parental Electronic Supervision of Teens - Good or Bad?

Re: Parental Electronic Supervision of Teens - Good or Bad?

Carl Navarro (cnavarro@wcnet.org)
Tue, 13 Dec 2005 05:15:42 GMT

On 12 Dec 2005 10:12:58 -0800, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:

> There are more and more devices coming onto the affordable marketplace
> that allow parents to monitor their teenagers' whereabout and
> activities. Is this a good or bad thing?

> One is a video camera in the car which monitors their driving. It can
> see whether they use their seatbelts (kids often forget) and whether
> they drive carefully or not (samples show kids, even knowing of the
> device, get distracted easily).

> Another is a GPS device for car or cell phone so they know where the
> kid is at all times.

> I have very mixed feelings about these devices and this kind of
> supervision.

I'm very close to getting a GPS for the vehicle. It has two good
things in that it can monitor speed, and location. In today's
society, I think it is fast becoming a must to know where your own or
your child's vehicle is at all times. You can also get it to disable
the vehicle, and entry level systems are in the $500 price range plus
a few bucks a month for monitoring.

If you have a 1970 Pinto you're probably safe from carjacking, but an
SUV or any Honda or sports car and you could be a victim. To be able
to go on the internet or call the law enforcement people and track
your stolen ride is a pretty reasonabe investment.

Some of the systems let you establish zones. ie you live in NJ and you
tell your child to stay out of NYC. You set a zone around NYC and if
the vehicle crosses into that zone it can page you. We could have
used that to keep someone out of crack town. Ya gotta do whatever you
can sometimes.

Carl Navarro

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