Monitor Children with Spyware in The Undercover Parents by by Harlan Coben

In the article Let Kids Run Online written by Danah Boyd, Boyd questions whether parents monitoring their children's online social life is a good or a bad thing. Many parents can agree that monitoring their phones and computers is actually a good thing. It can keep children out from harm’s way, it would be easier for parents to find things out that their kids don’t feel comfortable to actually say out loud, and it could possibly bring them closer together by having them be so close.

In his essay, “The Undercover Parent,” Harlan Coben argues in the favor of the use of parental spyware on children’s computers. Coben’s claim for his argument is that by installing the spyware unto a child’s computer, you have the ability to log every keystroke your child makes and thus be better equipped to protect your child from harmful situations. Coben acknowledges parent’s hesitation and repulsion of spyware, and clearly defines for his audience what spyware is exactly and how it operates. The author reminds his audience with logical appeals that most parents do already monitor their children’s day to day lives, and that spyware simply offers a new way of protection. Coben then lists his audience’s common counter arguments such as simply

In Harlan Coben’s article “The Undercover Parent,”(2008) he claims that parents should result to putting spyware on you tennager’s devices. Coben supports his claim by first stating “At first I was repelled at this invasion of privacy. Now, after doing an fair amount of research, I get it”, after a dinner he just had with friends who told Coben that they have put spyware on their teenager’s device, and how it kept him out of trouble. Coben’s purpose of this article is try to persuade parents that you should download spyware on your children’s devices yet, in order for Coben to get his purpose, he had to do some research and ask around for incidents that had occurred to his friends.. The audience is intended for parents of those who concern

In his article "Undercover Parent," Harlan Coben encourages and supports the concept of spyware being placed on teenagers' computers by their parents. With these programs parents can view every keystroke their child makes and examine what websites their children visit. While Coben’s viewpoints are bold, his argument still stands weakly with several invalid and questionable viewpoints.

With the spyware, you have unlocked your child’s private world. Coben talks about this, about how this would seem like a breech of privacy--especially to the child. The computer is now the “key-locked diary of the past.” But it isn’t, there is a difference between writing your thoughts down on something you’d only see and posting your thoughts on the internet. Coben states such, along with

Parents should use spyware on their kids. Parents should use spyware, because of the horrible things happening to kids and teenagers such as teenagers getting raped and killed.This surveillance would protect your kids from harm. Harlan explains that “some will say you should simply trust your child”, but that is not the case you are just protecting your kids from harm.

While it is true that monitoring children is helpful, it does not necessarily mean that parents should invade children’s internet activity, ignoring their autonomy. Although most parents do not have malicious intent, it is invalid because it could cause harm, “And most parents already monitor their children, watching over their home environment, their school” (paragraph 4). Secure parents do not feel obligated to pry on their children because it creates a distrusting environment where the children are always on guard around their parents. Due to possible breaches of trust by parents, their parental dynamic could be corrupted by misguided love. Furthermore, Coben talks about parents not trusting their children and correlates it to negligence, “Trust is one thing, but surrendering parental responsibility to a machine that allows the entire world access to your home borders on negligence” (paragraph 6).

As the Internet developed, it brings a lot of benefits, such as getting information much quicker; however, it also brings problem. One problem that Internet brings to today’s society is children’s safety on virtual world; there are a lot of temptations attract kids on the Internet. This issue Coben discusses is a particularly controversial one because it’s hard for parents ignore the dangerous on the Internet; on the other hand, if parents surveillance kids’ privacy world, it’s really embarrassed for children. How could we solve this problem? What is a compromise way for both parents and children? Coben thinks parents should use spyware on the computer, but not surreptitious doing this; parents should tell

In his nonfiction article “undercover parent” “March 16, 2008”. Harlen Coben suggest that parents should put on spyware on there kids electronics. For example he wasn't so sure about using spyware but his friend confessed to using spyware so he looked into it. Coben addressed counter arguments by giving audience facts, giving them examples, telling them stories that eventually lead to the argument. Coben starts his essay with a personal anecdote about how his friends let him know that they were using spyware for their daughter, which leads to him doing research on his own and amining to the conclusion that parents should use the technology to keep their kids safe. The author did not really know if we should use spyware on our kids electronics, he didn’t know if parents should look through their kids phones or computers. The author did research and he found out that a lot of parents are starting use spyware, it goes to say that parents want to know what there are doing on the internet

The article “Undercover Parent,” written by Harlan Coben, claims that parents should have a conversation about their concerns and let their kids know that “spyware” or other systems similar to it are available. I both agree and disagree with his thoughts towards “spyware.” This article is an editorial, and was written with the intention of persuading parents that “spyware” is a good idea, to an extent.

When parents want to know everything their child is doing on the internet, the children feel they are invading their privacy, but in reality they are doing it for their child’s safety. In “The Undercover Parent” by Harlan Coben, he talks about the option of parents installing spy software on their children’s computers to detect any strange activity that could be harmful to their safety. By doing this he explains the many dangers and fatalities that could be prevented, it will also enable parents to feel better about their child’s safety. Some parents do not agree on placing the software on their child’s computers because they feel their kids are responsible enough to use the internet properly, so they refuse to install it (372-373). I agree with Coben that spy software should be installed on children’s computers, but without their knowledge so the software can safely monitor their online activity.

The reason I really agree is because Coben is showing how good spyware could be because it could tell you what your kids are doing and see if it’s bad and even see who they’re even talking because they could be talking to some crazy and weird people. Another good thing about spyware is that you could put a tracking device in their cell phones to see if they’re going in a bad neighborhood. If I was a parent I would consider using spyware just to make sure that my children are ok and not in danger. Coben is trying to get parents to agree but some parents might think it’s invading their children's space but Coben is just trying to show that without protection it could lead into

In this Coben tries to get the reader to think the idea of spyware is a good thing and not so bad as it sounds. It sometimes helps reduce negative feelings by explaining what spyware is and how easy it is to get. When Coben says, "you have the ability to log every keystroke your child makes and thus a good portion of his or her private world" it does kinda scare the reader a little because of how he phrases some words but then he adds, "that’s what spyware is—at least the parental monitoring kind" this reassure the reader. "Am I suggesting eavesdropping on every conversation? No. With new technology comes new responsibility" this statement shows us that he feels that we shouldn't eavesdrop on every conversation Which makes the reader think that now it won't be such a time

Most spyware can be dangerous if used for purposes that are not beneficial but parents are now considering its use to monitor their children’s internet use. Some say computer spyware can prevent harmful situations and make it easier to talk to young adults about the dangers of life with internet. I agree with Coben’s point in this argument because I think there are lots of things spyware could’ve helped or even prevented.

Every day teenagers use the internet, whether it’s on their phones or on the computers at school or at home. Their lives are practically centered around it. They’re connecting with each other on social media such as: Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and even online video games, and this has is benefits, but it can also have some negative and possibly dangerous situations. The internet is not a safe haven for anyone or anything. In the article “The Undercover Parent” the author, Harlan Coben, makes the argument that spyware is alright to be used by parents on their kids computers as long as the parents are using the software responsibly. I agree with Coben’s statements because of his solid arguments of dangerous conversations, privacy, and bullying.