ipl-logo

Harlan Coben's Article 'The Undercover Parent'

534 Words3 Pages

Digital Parenting
“It is the uninvolved parent who has to resort to strictness.” -Andrea Bocelli.
In this digital age, parents, instead of installing invasive software to monitor their children’s online activity, should develop open and trusting relationships with their children, as this is the best way to guard their kids against potential dangers and respect their kids privacy.
In his article “The Undercover Parent,” Harlan Coben from The New York Times, claims that children are most vulnerable online and parents should install spyware on their child’s computer in order to protect their child. Using anecdotes from fellow parents and other cases of online threats, he supports his argument by stating that watching their kid’s online behavior is no different than watching them at the park (generally seen as responsible and necessary parenting); therefore, it is the moral obligation of all parents to protect their kids from online predators and bullies, even if outsiders would say that using spyware is …show more content…

This ruins the relationship you have with your kid, as it only makes them feel like they have to be secretive with you about their lives. They will find a way to get around whatever software you install; however, this time, if they ever encounter a cyberbully or predator, they will not tell you or ask for help because you have demonstrated that they cannot confide in you. Your children are not your property. The second they are born they are their own separate person with their own rights, including the right to privacy. As a parent, it is not your job to police what websites your children use or who they speak to; your job is to love them and teach them as best you can how to take care of themselves and how to come to you with their problems and

Show More
Related
332 Words | 2 Pages

Should parents have the right to put spyware on their children computers. Harlan Coben the author of “ Undercover Parent ” published by the New York Times on March 16, 2008 highlights the fact that it's scary to put spyware on your your children computers, Most parents won't even consider it. From my point of view with Cobens argument because most parents don't know what they're really do on the internet. Coben speaks about how some people will say that it's better just to use parental blocks that denies access to inappropriate sites.

Read More
339 Words | 2 Pages

In Harlen Coben’s, The Undercover Parent, Coben argues that spyware should be applied to the computers of children, I disagree. Coben claims that spyware will let the parent protect the child from himself/herself by monitoring every technological footprint the child makes. Coben states, “Loving parents are doing the surveillance here, not faceless bureaucrats… Today’s overprotective parents fight their kids’ battles on the playground…yet when it comes to chatting with pedophiles or watching beheadings or gambling away their entire life savings... then their children deserve independence?”

Read More
1132 Words | 5 Pages

Hope Edelman, a writer and mother, discusses her thoughts and experiences of the reality of marriage in, “The Myth of Co-Parenting: How It Was Supposed to Be. How It Was.” Edelman details how at the beginning of her marriage her husband was starting an internet business and had to take long hours causing Hope to cut hers in order to care for their child. Hope describes how she expected marriage to be a place where the spouses split homemaking and breadwinning equally. She quickly realized that that was not the case.

Read More
370 Words | 2 Pages

Stalking Is Different Than Monitoring In “The Undercover Parent”, by Harlan Coben he argues that parents have a right to monitor their children, by putting spyware on their computers or other devices, making it possible to see what they spend their time doing and to whom they spend their time talking. Though, the way that most teens see it, if a parent is allowing their child onto social media, then they should trust them enough to the point where they shouldn’t have to monitor everything they’re doing. While online, people can definitely change.

Read More
608 Words | 3 Pages

Parents Vs. Internet In the article “ The Undercover Parent,” Coben talks about how parents should monitor their kids. He goes on about the benefits and disadvantages of using spyware by using anecdotes and counterclaims. Coben seems to argue that parents should definitely monitor their kids but he never seems to agree with parents using spyware on an everyday basis.

Read More
194 Words | 1 Pages

To the Editor: In the essay “The Undercover Parent” by Harlan Coben, the author calls the spyware on a child’s computer as “loving parents...doing the surveillance” and “not faceless bureaucrats” as a way to defend. But speaking as a person, who just quite recently went through those teenage years, I may not understand the perspective of a parent nor do I claim to. However, I do understand the big difference between Dick Cheney and a member of my family reading my messages but it doesn’t make the wound sting less. The government did it as a way of national defence, yet a lot of people felt like they were being violated; now having a parent download a spyware - that in most cases is meant for protection and hopefully the prevention of something

Read More
269 Words | 2 Pages

Alfie Kohn in an excerpt from his book, “The One-Sided War against Children”, explores the topic of helicopter parenting. In which through Kohn uses ethos in order to convey his overall message, that helicopter parenting is not necessarily a bad thing for children. As there is no substantial facts that otherwise prove that helicopter parenting is damaging to children. In which Kohn uses his vast information about other articles and sources on the same topic. For example, when Kohn lists some of them, “...‘How to Land Your Kid in Therapy’...

Read More
422 Words | 2 Pages

“I don’t call it spying; I call it parenting “this is said by many protecting parents from all over the world. There’s been many debates about this problem, many parents having to spy on their child’s smart phone or social media. First, the parent’s job is to help the child’s development in life, not spy on it. Lori Day has great examples in “Brutally Honest”, an psychologist and mother considers spying “an invasion of privacy and a violation of trust this is said on lines 22-24.

Read More
574 Words | 3 Pages

A ninja. That’s what parents are becoming. Harlan Coben’s article “The Undercover Parent” warns parents that the internet is a dangerous place for their children and even teens. I disagree that parents should use spyware, unless their teen is untrustworthy. The use of spyware eliminates the bond of trust between parents and children.

Read More
1180 Words | 5 Pages

“Scary. But a good idea. Most parents won’t even consider it,” Harlan Coben states about spyware. In his opinion article, “The Undercover Parent”, Harlan Coben, author and columnist, expresses to his audience that they should monitor their kids and pro using spyware, but with the condition of making children aware it’s there.

Read More
461 Words | 2 Pages

What 's the first thing that comes in your mind when your hear spyware ? In Harlan Cobens, article, “ The Undercover Parent”, this article is going to be about how parents are always checking on their kids. Coben, states out that people should get spyware is good for your child. They support thesis by saying that all this equipment is helpful for your child to make sure they 're not doing anything bad. The authors purpose is that to tell parents that spyware is helpful to make sure your child is ok.

Read More
1173 Words | 5 Pages

Assignment2: Counter-Argument outline I. Introduction: A. Rhetorical questions: - but where do the boundaries lie between safeguarding and surveillance? -to snoop, or not to snoop? B. .Name of writer: Judith Woods C. Name of article: Should Parents Spy on Their Children’s Emails and Texts? D. Central claim: parents should spy on and monitor their children’s texts and emails.

Read More
1475 Words | 6 Pages

Once their privacy is limited, teens are willing to do anything to gain it back, which can lead to rebellious actions and possibly illegal activities. There are many dangers on the web that can harm them so yes, you should apply spyware, but make your child aware or he/she might feel as though you don’t trust them. Let your child know that you trust them, but you want to make sure that they’re safe while surfing the web

Read More
1176 Words | 5 Pages

Not only does the internet encourage violence, it can change the thought process of children. In usual cases, children tend to instantly believe almost everything that seems to make sense to them. Not knowing that negative content can hurt them mentally, they become too stubborn to change their perception for they think

Read More
744 Words | 3 Pages

Fear of a parent or guardian being cross is often more frightening than the uncomfortable experience they 've had online, but that is what some nasty people will count on. Talk to your children about what they are doing online and encourage them to use the SMART rules at all times. Consider placing the computer in a shared room of the house so its use does not become secretive and hidden. Make your online use a family

Read More

More about Harlan Coben's Article 'The Undercover Parent'

Related Topics

Open Document