Worried - daughter's secret e-mail?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
Worried - daughter's secret e-mail?
12
Wed, 09-05-2007 - 6:54pm
This has me worried. I have a 13-year old, she's a good kid but like all kids is very immature and naive. We have always checked over their e-mail but lately one e-mail account in particular has become very inactive, yet she still spends the same amount of time online. DH & I are worried she might be using an e-mail account we don't know exists - she has some friends who are pretty sharp on the computer, one who's a bit too grown up for her years. Some upsetting e-mails were coming in lately and we'd like to find out somehow if there are any SECRET e-mail accounts on this computer we don't know are there. We are strapped tight for money, just scraping by, so I can't afford some of the programs I've read you can put on your computer. Is there a way to do this???

 


~~joannaran~~

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2007
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 11:41am

I bought Spector Pro (about $69-- you download it) and it works great. I check the screen shots (it captures the image of the screen), IM transcripts, and sometimes the keystrokes (you can get their passwords that way!)

Now, I am getting info that worries me and disheartens me. My son is 17, and I now know for sure he looks at porn, but he's 17 1/2. How can I block a kid that age--really, what's the point? It will make him freak out, and he'll wonder why I did that all of the sudden.

I read about friends and drinking. I'm not clear on his level of participation, but it clarifies that some of his friends clearly do it. I learn about parties, then worry how to stop him from going, yet at his age how tight can I hold the apron strings??

For a 13 year old it may not be too important. She is probably more likely using instant messaging and texting, which cuts down on email. My son hardly ever uses email. I can read his IM's, but wish I could read his text messages on his phone, I think that's where the real planning and scheming go down.

Keep an eye on her and her friends. If you start worrying about the people she hangs with, try to cut down on when she sees them, and start monitoring her computer.

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 2:17pm
Most likely she is more apt to be iming than doing emails at that age.
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