A mum has justified she’s entitled to snoop through her kids’ phones because she pays for them.
But more and more parents are becoming concerned about what their kids get up to on their phones.
From cyberbullying to catfishing, we often hear about risks online.
According to a recent survey, 54% of parents are monitoring their teenager’s activity in at least two ways through their phones.
One of many parents to admit to snooping through their kids’ phones is Laura Muse from the US.
The mental health clinician grabs her teenage son’s phone, before he falls asleep each night.
And she screens her and his teen daughter’s online activity and personal correspondences.
The mum told the New York Post: ‘They don’t own their phones, I own their phones and I pay for the phones.’ ‘I could go through them when I want to.’”
It’s how she ‘manages her ship,’ she added.
On TikTok, Muse has also been dishing about her parenting rules.
The viral post shows her standing with her son as music with the lyrics ‘This is no big deal’ plays.
The text on the screen reads: “It’s me every time I look through my teenager’s phone.”
The video has one million views and hundreds have taken to the comments to say they agree with Muse.
A fellow parent writes: “I had my daughter turned in her phone every night at bedtime and yes, I looked at it. It’s for their protection.”
Another agrees, adding: “Because you’ve done a fine job of raising them, it’s nothing to it.”
“You have beautiful and amazing kids that you are truly blessed with. Good job momma bear!”
While a third person comments: “I love that you guys have that relationship where that is good and you can.”
But others have hit back in the comments accusing it of being an ‘invasion of privacy’.
One asks, “Why [do] you go through his phone?” “Let him have privacy.”
A second says: “She doesn’t go through my phone unless I give her a reason not to trust me.”
‘If you check your kids’ phone it’s an invasion of privacy, you don’t trust them.’ A third pens, they will never open up to you ever again.
In response to this last comment, Muse says: I pay for the phone and if you have nothing to hide, coz we can talk openly about life stuff, its no big deal… Sorry you don’t have that in your life.”
