Should parents use technology widely available today to monitor their children’s cell phones? Any student visiting the Revere website may see a link leading to information about a seminar covering the topic and ask this question.

Verizon Wireless, one cell phone provider, offers FamilyBase, a program for parents to monitor their children’s phones. FamilyBase allows parents to view call and text history, control contacts and block access to a phone at certain times during the day or for a specific amount of time. TeenSafe, an independent organization, allows parents to view sent, received and deleted text messages, call history, phone location, Internet search and browsing history and social media activity.

But do the benefits of monitoring cell phones justify the potential problems that this activity could create?
Most parents pay for their teenagers’ cell phones and thus have a right to access them. Furthermore, parents have a responsibility to keep their children safe and out of harm’s way. As children grow older, some may distance themselves from their parents, possibly withholding significant problems from them. A parent who has access to his or her child’s phone could read about his or her child’s problems and provide both guidance and advice.

Monitoring cell phones, however, can bring up one significant issue—that parents do not trust their children to make good decisions on their own. Gaining freedom and making one’s own decisions are vital parts of a teenager’s development as he or she matures. When a parent monitors his or her child’s phone, it can create a conflict between parent and child that can cause more problems than benefits.

Ultimately, each situation is radically different. Each family faces its own problems and must therefore handle their own situations in different ways. Some parents may find monitoring their child’s cell phone necessary, while others may trust their children to make their own decisions.

Regardless of the situation, we believe that there is no substitute for a healthy relationship and open dialogue between parents and their children.