As a parent, you’re not going to get everything right. But there’s no harm in always trying your best to help your kids make good choices.
That’s exactly what this North Carolina mom has been doing to monitor her teens’ screen time.
Every night around 11:30 p.m., Laura Muse tucks her teenage son Cohen into bed with a kiss before taking away his cell phone for the night.
This nightly routine is just one of the many ways Muse manages her children’s screen time and online activities, making sure they get enough rest and act responsibly online.
As a mental health clinician and the owner of her children’s phones, Muse feels justified in her actions, even if she faces some criticism. “I own their phones and pay for them, so I can check them whenever I want,” she told the New York Post.
While she understands that some parents might see this as an invasion of privacy, Muse views it as a necessary part of parenting.
She’s not alone in her approach. Under the hashtag #RaisingTeens, parents on social media proudly share their strategies for monitoring their teenagers’ online behavior. A survey by Malwarebytes found that 54% of parents use various methods to supervise their teens’ online activities, including GPS tracking and reviewing texts and social media posts.
Muse’s vigilance began when her children first received their phones at age 11. She initially conducted random weekly checks, but now, with her kids in their teens, these checks happen less often. Although she trusts her children, Muse believes that monitoring their digital behavior helps prevent them from getting involved in inappropriate activities and protects them from online dangers.
Her interventions have sometimes uncovered concerning behavior, like her son posting inappropriate content on social media. She believes that addressing these issues directly with her children as they arise allows her to turn them into teachable moments. Additionally, she thinks that open communication and setting boundaries are essential for guiding her children’s use of technology.
Many parents have taken to TikTok to share why they choose to check their children’s phones, which has drawn significant criticism from those who believe it’s not the right approach.
“This is not okay,” one user commented on a mom’s video.
Another added, “You don’t have to go through her phone.”
Someone else said, “I hate parents who can’t respect boundaries.”
In Muse’s home, her children have come to appreciate her involvement in their digital lives. She sees her actions not as an invasion of privacy but as a way to nurture and protect her children.
What do you think? Would you do the same with your own children, or have you already? Share your thoughts in the comments!
