Instant Messaging by KINSA

After viewing the Kids' Internet Safety Alliance (KINSA) Virtually Safe program - Instant Messaging video (embed below), I was split on how I felt about the message the video was giving. The video had a 'Instant Messaging for Dummies' feel to it as it went over the basics of what instant messaging was and how to use some of the features. It also went over how to more or less spy on your kid's conversations and friends list.

Now, I understand that as parents we need to monitor our children and be mindful of who they 'hang out' with and what they occupy their time with. I am just not sure that the methods the video went over would work the best. Personally, I feel that you should be having these conversations WITH your children and not doing so behind their backs. I could not help but be reminded of an episode of a show I am currently watching on Netflix. The show is called Freaks and Geeks and in the episode the main character's parents decide to go behind their daughter's back and read her diary when she is not home. By doing so, they soon find out things that they wish they did not know and how their child truly felt about them. To sum it up, the parents wished they did not read her diary. I feel that by reading your child's old instant messaging conversations without their permission, you could be opening up a can of worms!

My advice, talk to your children about internet safety and be open with them. They should in turn be open with you. I do not have any children as of yet, so I could be totally off with this idea. Feel free to comment!

Also, I did feel a little 'aged' as I watched this as I once had an ICQ messenger handle 'back in the day' and currently use the ICQ alert as my main phone notification sound (Uh Oh!)

References:

- kinsa001. "Kids' Internet Safety Alliance (KINSA) Virtually Safe program - Instant Messaging." Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, Febuary 6, 2009. Web. July 15, 2014.