[furquhart]

I'd recommend against this sort of thing. While it's good to know what your teenagers are up to, I daresay, (as someone who was a teenager not all that long ago) that there are probably a number of things you'd be better off not knowing.

[CindyDawg]

As long as the child knows up front that this is not a diary and that you will have access, I don't see a problem. I was reading some of the stuff kids were posting the other day and if it had been my kid, I would have taken the computer away.

[Spiff]

I'd recommend against this sort of thing. While it's good to know what your teenagers are up to, I daresay, (as someone who was a teenager not all that long ago) that there are probably a number of things you'd be better off not knowing.

Baloney. Trust, but verify.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I recommend against it as well. I recommend placing the PC in a central area, using Win XP and making yourself the only Admin account. Make them login and let them know that you scan the PC regularly for irregularites. When found, their password will be changed and they can read a book for the next month.

Worked for me.

One other thing I did that worked like a charm...I downloaded a freeware program called Parents Friend that did it all. I let them see me install it and told them this software would monitor their every move. I told them I would be monitoring it regularly and the directory would be hidden and password protected so they couldn't hack it.
The next day, I uninstalled it. The threat of just having it on the PC kept them in line.

[papertyger]

I'd recommend against this sort of thing. While it's good to know what your teenagers are up to, I daresay, (as someone who was a teenager not all that long ago) that there are probably a number of things you'd be better off not knowing.

Sound advice.

Never ask a question unless you know you want the answer.