60% of Parents Confess they read their kids' emails, texts and Facebookmessages

Moral dilemma: Do children have a right to expect privacy, or should we be able to check up on their activity online and on their phones?

Six out of ten parents admit they regularly read their children’s private emails, texts and Facebook messages, a study revealed today. 

Researchers found that, despite the risk of being accused of invading the privacy of their offspring, the majority of mothers and fathers still believe snooping is 'necessary' to keep tabs on who their children engage with online.

The study also found one in ten parents have gone as far as to find out their son or daughter’s password, despite their offspring’s best attempts to keep it from them.

But as a result, the poll by internet security firm Bullguard found, as many as one in three parents were wracked with guilt after hacking their child's email.

Alex Balan of BullGuard said: 'Parents do face a real moral dilemma as to whether they should check what their children are doing online.

'It’s understandable to want to keep tabs on the sites that they are visiting but whether to read private emails, texts and messages poses a real quandary for parents.

'While you want to look out for your child and ensure they are safe you also want them to be technologically savvy and have their own independence.'

One in five parents have been ‘shocked’ by content they have discovered on their children’s email, text or Facebook account.

The alarmingly high figure emerged from a study of 2,000 parents of children aged 10-17, which showed 61 per cent regularly snoop on their offspring.

Keeping tabs: One in five parents say they have been shocked by content they have discovered on their children's phones or computers

It also emerged that one in five mothers and fathers are convinced their children lie about their age to gain access to social networking sites.

More than one in ten parents have had to deal with their child being bullied online and a whopping 17 per cent have had to intervene after their child was threatened.

What’s more concerning is that 23 per cent of parents said their child didn’t know the perpetrator.

It is no wonder then that one in four parents have confessed their snooping to their children because they were so concerned about what they found.

The worrying statistics were revealed in a study by internet and mobile security firm BullGuard which revealed the average child doesn’t actually know 40 per cent of the people they befriend on Facebook.

The study also found around 38 per cent of parents believe they would lose their child’s trust completely if they confessed to snooping.

A more discreet 37 per cent had brought up the issues they were concerned about but hadn’t let on they had seen private content on their child’s computer or phone.

Researchers also found 30 per cent of concerned parents admit that although they were aware they were invading their child’s privacy they felt it was necessary in order to keep tabs on who they were talking to online.

Reading emails, texts and messages were the most popular way for parents to spy on their kids as well as checking recent call lists and monitoring their internet history.

But nearly a third admitted they felt guilty after hacking into their child’s email or Facebook account.

Of the parents who took part, just one in ten said they knew the passwords to their children's smartphone or computer despite their son or daughter trying to keep it private.

And 34 per cent of parents of children aged 10-17 said they have no idea what the passwords are to their children's gadgets.

The main areas of concerns for parents were who their children were talking to online, how much time they spend on the internet and the type of sites they are visiting.

Alex Balan added: 'It’s a minefield for parents. You want your children to have freedom and make friends but you want to ensure they are safe when they are online.

'It’s hard enough watching your children 24/7 in the real world, but keeping tabs on their movements online is the real challenge.'

TOP 10 WAYS THAT PARENTS SNOOP

1. Reading messages on social networking sites

2. Checking their internet history

3. Reading their text messages

4. Monitoring their list of friends on social networking sites

5. Checking their pictures on social networking sites

6. Reading their emails

7. Checking their call list

8. Finding out their passwords

9. Asking teachers to keep an eye on their internet use

10. Getting a sibling to help to snoop