Thousands of Parents Reading Kids Email, Instant Messages

There has been a recent trend of parents installing monitoring software and secretly reading kids' Internet communications. This is a controversial issue that some agree with and some do not. It is being fueled by high-profile Internet predator cases.

SOUTHAMPTON, PA, 4/8/2002 - Did you know there is software that can be installed on your computer that is completely invisible, yet it will record each and every email or instant message that you send? Thousands of parents are finding out about this type of software, due to a new website called Software4Parents.com . The website has recently been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, on The Montel Williams Show, and many other national newspapers.

In the past, parents biggest fear about the Internet and their children was pornography. In light of recent high-profile Internet-predator cases, this attitude is changing. It is no longer sufficient to block your kids from porn and think that your Internet safety responsibilities are being fulfilled, said Joshua Finer, President of Software4Parents.com He added Parents see their kids sending instant messages back and forth all evening, and many really have no idea with whom or what they are talking about!"

One of the most recent Internet predator cases occurred over this past New Years, where Alicia Kozakiewicz was somehow lured from her Pittsburgh home and later found tied to an Internet Predators bed in Herndon, Virginia. It was reported that she first made contact with this predator via Instant Messages.

After the ordeal, the thankful mother had a few things to say about the Internet:
No matter how you feel about your child or how trusting you are that what's going on is innocent, check it, check it and double-check it -- or don't have [the Internet at all," urged Mary Kozakiewicz.

Of course many people disagree with monitoring their childs Internet activities. They typically feel that it is a violation of the childs trust, and generally not a good approach to Internet safety. However, would they be willing to argue this with Mary Kozakiewicz, after her recent ordeal?

I hope Alicia Kozakiewiczs ordeal and extensive media coverage can help build awareness of the dangers present on the Internet. Kids these days know far more about computers than their parents, and many parents are really out of the loop. We tell parents each and every day to monitor their kids Internet use -- however, not everyone always likes the thought of this. This time, it is not us doing the urging -- it is the mother of a very lucky young girl -- who can testify first hand," said Joshua.
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