Children need some level of privacy

I was reading an article the other day about how parents these days have to take extra precautions regarding who their children talk to, be it while on the phone or using the internet.

On one hand I do believe that it is in the good interests of the parent's hearts to have the right to view and monitor what their children view on the internet and also what kind of chat rooms their kids are entering.

I am not at all surprised why Bahraini and expatriate parents in the region are taking these measures because what is happening in the West right now is bound to open up not only their eyes but also the eyes of the authorities.

Talk about chat room suicides and psychopaths using on-line community networks to lure innocent girls into their clutches have made many people fear the worst.

Some Bahraini teenagers believe that what happens in the West cannot ever possibly happen to any of them here because we are so different.

However, we are all so technologically advanced and that is what makes many parents afraid.

I am totally in favour of computers and laptops being set up outside the bedroom until levels of trust are shown from a child's part. However, I do not encourage parents to excessively monitor their kids - that would truly be a recipe for disaster.

This would lead young people to feel insecure about everything that they do. Some level of privacy must be allowed in order to establish a common trust ... which goes to show what a fine balancing act is required when it comes to parenting and growing up.