Your thoughts on preteens and webcam use

Do you think its okay for a preteen to have a webcam on their personal computer?

I have an eleven year old who watches iCarly faithfully. He wants a webcam and is fascinated with the idea of doing his own webcast. My ex uses a webcam and would be thrilled if I let our son use one.

My ex and I are barely on speaking terms and I already have had problems in the past regarding my son's cell phone such as when my ex called our son and arranged to take him somewhere without my knowledge.

I have a webcam on my computer but I barely use it. I met a friend who uses one all the time and thinks its a great way to comunicate with family and friends.

I'm worried about privacy, my ex and all the bad things I can think of.

Do you think its safe? Do you think its okay for a preteen to have a webcam on the their personal computer? Do you have one in your home?

I have an eleven year old son who uses mine to talk to his nan and older brother but myself or hubby sets it up and its in our kitchen while he uses it ! I would NEVER let him use it without either of us being present its as simple as that.

no i dont think its good for a eleven year old to have a webcam see the trouble they cause, if you do let him use one onluy let him use while you are in the room

its his safety you got to think about

As long as it does not entice the practice of secrets.

I have generally suggested that all preteen use of computers be done in common areas like the family room/den. This local can also be used when teens misuse their private computers..they get regalated back to pre teen times...

Computers are literally fantastic tools for emersing oneself into the world. But it's misuse can dictate consequences a child cannot forsee.

IMHO.

Lenny

I think it will be ok as long as you monitor him while he is using it..... never giving him the password to unlock the computer when he is along.

I am all for having a webca, becasue they are great tools. However, when it comes to children and teens, keep the computer in an are where you can see what is going on. I see that theother replyers said that. Thats great. I know from unfortunate events where a kid can go into a chat room for kids and start a web conversation with someone they shouldn't. Even if the computer is in the room they can still seem like they aren't chatting. If you do get a webcam or have one on your laptop, use parental controls or another form of monotoring the website and webcam use. Kids are very resourceful. I rememeber after going on a game site my mom thought runied her computer (wich it did ) I would delete the cookies and all that. It is totaly up to you though. good luck!

Roman

I don't believe in them...but if you are using them...you really must monitor very closely...there are too many predators out there in children's rooms just waiting the for the right one!

TJ

[I believe you should follow your gutt- if worried, then honor that and wait longer. I would not let my daughter have one that was not in a public place w/in the house, but after moving to the US, I onl had my laptop which had a builtin webcam. She did stuff on it that she regrets- when i discovered it, i was so upset and she was no embarassed that she attempted suicide. I encourage you to be strong- I feel that we have to be strong as our children are not always willing and able to protect themselves. That was just my little opinion.

Elainequote=Zelev;854401]Do you think its okay for a preteen to have a webcam on their personal computer?

I have an eleven year old who watches iCarly faithfully. He wants a webcam and is fascinated with the idea of doing his own webcast. My ex uses a webcam and would be thrilled if I let our son use one.

My ex and I are barely on speaking terms and I already have had problems in the past regarding my son's cell phone such as when my ex called our son and arranged to take him somewhere without my knowledge.

I have a webcam on my computer but I barely use it. I met a friend who uses one all the time and thinks its a great way to comunicate with family and friends.

I'm worried about privacy, my ex and all the bad things I can think of.

Do you think its safe? Do you think its okay for a preteen to have a webcam on the their personal computer? Do you have one in your home? [/quote]

i agree with trish. i wouldnt let any preteen use a webcam without me at least knowing who their talking to. i dont see the problem with one, but you should be able to come and go and know who theyre talking to. i understand you dont want to butt into their convos, but it depends on how much you and your child communicate. if you can trust them enough, i think you could probably do it. but you know how much you trust your child not me.

personally i worry about preteens on the internet, but thats probably because i know wht kinda people u can find there. iiits not always that bad, but yeh.

anyway um. i cant really talk, cuz im not a parent, but yeh :P

sorry if i annoyed anyone.

:S

I think it depends alot on your parent/child relationship. I've had several serious incidents with my almost 13 year old daughter that prevents me from allowing her to use a webcam. I would think as long as your communication/trust relationship is strong, it would be ok. I do agree that constant monitoring by an adult would be highly recommended.

Good luck!

I think the comp for a child that young should be in a the family living room
Would I have allowed my children at that age use a web cam ? no
unless I was sitting right there.
To easy for them to get in trouble....
I agree with the constant monitoring...
The net can be a scarey place....
KIds need to be protected imo
muffy

I would learn about iCarly and its premise, etc.; it's about a 13 year old who lives with her 26 year old brother; not your typical life/lifestyle so I don't know if I'd let my child emulate it, especially one younger than that. Miranda Cosgrove, who plays Carly is actually a 15 year old actress and I'm not sure I like that little fiction either when dealing with pre-teens and who they emulate; there's a lot of difference between an 11 year old's life and a 15 year old's, in my opinion. And an actress playing a "star" in her large, hometown, isn't going to be as big a jump as my 11 year old doing what such a show portrays?

Just because a television show is "for" preteens, I'd be discussing the heck out of it with my child and watching it with them, nevermind computer use and webcams! My child wouldn't have their own television and would only be watching series I'd watched with them originally and researched/knew about and we'd discussed, etc.

I feel that regular monitoring is necessary no m,atter how good the communication. Although y daughter and I spend tons of one on one time together, when she did make a few bad decisions, she was partially embarassed to tell me and in part enjoying the stuff she was doing. In my situation, her webcam use was being manipulated long distance by someone she had met in person in our home country b4 moving to the US.
I'd rather be safe than sorry next time. I have some one going to work on making my computer bsafer for the children.

Regards
Elaine

Im with most of the other posters, in that I feel it should be monitored at all times. I dont think an 11 year old should have a webcam that is not monitored - and you can fix this by simply removing the webcam from the computer when you are not there.

Technology is fun and its good for a child to learn technology, but in a safe environment, so i think using it when you are there is ok.

Sorry, just hi-jacking thread......thank you for bringing up hypothyroidism in your signature.......I am going through the same thing at the moment and I am so sick......more people need to know about it

As for webcams, they have their place but no way my 14 year old son is having one!!! Sorry, really paranoid.

Thanks I think it's very important because MOST doctors don't EVER even bring it up...

I agree about the webcams, it is difficult enough regulating the internet...let alone cameras in the room!

TJ

Webcams themselves are great to have and I do sometimes use them to talk with friends or even my aunt and uncle (we use skype-skype computer calls so it's free and also use a webcam). However, my friends, family and myself are all old enough to know the possible dangers out there on the internet. I say if you let the 11-year old use the webcam, then have some sort of supervision over it, such as use it with you or let him use it but have a restricted internet access (although that wouldn't block everything harmful).

If I had a kid (which I don't, only 19 years old and in university), I'd let them use something like MSN or skype or similar things like those. They're free, you talk to whom you want and have very little harmful things on them.

If you do wish to let him use a webcam, then somehow make sure he doesn't start chatting with strangers or visiting inappropriate/harmful websites.

In my opinion any type of communication can be used for good or ill. Simply signing into my email on Yahoo (which I've had for the last 13 years) brings up auto smutt. I rarely use my messanger account but keep it for the few friends that have it only. I've gotten those types of messages on every IM program that I've had. I think the only exceptions were programs called pow-wow years ago, it only granted access to those people you invited to communicate with you, and ICQ also had an option for limiting communications to approved people. My point is that smutt gets through on these things and I've certainly never been to any site that would lead anyone to believe I would be interested in this type of communication.

If you are monitoring your child's computer access anyway the webcam should be fine.

What is sad if you have stated that you have had a problem with your 11 year old son calling his father. Now you are insinuating that there is a problem with him talking to his father via a web cam.

As a father that has gone through the torture of parental alienation, I feel you should look at some of your statements and how they are a bit over controlling.

FYI- when the kids reached 14 they left their mother with a court order. They are now older and resent their mother and her constant attempts to prevent them from speaking to me as a child. Now she has to deal with the alienation of the adult children.

Have a cell phone, sure whatever. Being allowed to speak to the other parent should never be an issue (unless a convicted felon) and having a web cam to speak to such parent should also not be an issue. It is a shame you do not already have a web cam that you own and allow him to speak to his father for just that purpose.

The technology is definately advancing to a higher level. There are so many fantastic gidgets to get these days. I am very thankful for the advancements that have been made in technology. However, encourage the younger generation as well as parents and other adults to become aware of the negative influence that are out there, and allow the positive influences to guide you in the right direction.