Harlan Coben The Undercover Parent

Technology has spread like a virus throughout the world. Almost everyone has access to technology. Technology, though it is a blessing has it’s dangers. Harlan Coben writes of parental monitoring. He is in great favor of parents putting spyware on their children’s devices to have access to all the devices information, in and outgoing message, and so forth. The article titled, The Undercover Parent, informs parents of the dangers of the internet and that monitoring is necessary. I agree with Coben, parents should monitor their kids internet use, be it on a phone, computer, and gaming consoles. Many teens do not know of the internet’s dangers that are lurking around corners ready to ensnare them.
First off, teenagers most mobile and easily accessible

device: their phones’. Since most teenagers carry their phones on them, the dangers await them right in their pocket. There are many ways to set blocks on phones, but as Coben states, how parental blocks don't work(Coben 7). These simple blocks, such as Google SafeSearch, can easy be avoided to re access the content. The phone has be set with a more advanced, more internal spyware system. The only problem with this is because of the popularity of phones. Most kids will just use a different phone in order to do their searching. The way around this, is by gaining popularity for spyware. If everyone had spyware on their phone, then everyone is safe.

Next, computers are often used by teens for more hefty use.

Things their phone can’t handle. Computers are where the real spyware can be used.
Many companies allow you to download their software to monitor the device. This is allows the admin to log “every keystroke”(Coben 2), as Coben says. Many people believe that this is an invasion of privacy and maybe it is. This is how Coben combats that, in his last few paragraphs he talks about telling your kids about the spyware. Therefore, they know it’s there and it is now longer an invasion.
Finally, gaming consoles, where kids go to escape the outside world. Video games have taken a turn towards being able to converse and play with people from all walks of life. Many people find this concept safe and secure, while others find it threatening and dangerous. Personally, I have many friends that choose to “friend” and chat with random people, but they are smart about and do not give out ANY personal information. This is where talking with random people becomes a bit safer. This makes it just a fun time to mess with random people or seriously play the game. Gaming consoles are more difficult to monitor, but random and constant message and browser history checks can be good to keep kids

inline.
In conclusion, though today’s technology is very helpful. It has it’s dangers, which can be easily accessed. Parents should monitor their kids, parental monitoring can stop those dangers from being accessed. Coben’s article has useful information not just for parents, but for kids as well. Parents monitoring their children's device usage should be the normal thing to do, not something frowned upon. It can and will protect children from internet dangers. That is why I side with Coben. Now, what are you doing to protect your children from the evils within the internet?