Another Ethics Question

[Please_Help950]

Here is another Ethics Question. I'm taking an Ethics class in College right now and I was wondering what everyone's opinion was on this question that I have received for a Homework assignment. The question that follows is typed exactly as it is on the paper I have received from my instructor.

Question:

           A parent of minor children asks you your opinion on whether or not they should let their minor children set up an online social networking account. What would your advice be to them?

[Please_Help950]

got another ethical question...someone gives you back too much change at the store, lets say $20.00 what do you do?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a really good question. :) If someone would give me too much change back at the store, I would leave them know that they did. Something happened to me very similar to this but instead of being at a store, my Grandpa wanted to give me some money for my Birthday and told me how much he wanted to give me, but when I have received it there was an extra $10 with it. I have told him once I realized that and he acted as if he didn't know. Once he realized what I was trying to tell me, he thanked me for telling him about his mistake and left me keep it anyway. Another time when I was at McDonald's I have ordered one Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait and they have placed two of them on my tray. I have told them about it and have only took the one.

So it other words if someone would give me too much change back at the store, I would leave them know that they did. I believe in honesty and would leave them know about their mistake(s).  :)

[margypops]

I would allow it around 16 but make sure I had access and was being hands on in making sure it was kept 'above board'maybe the parent should create the account and check it out very regularly.

[mikesimon]

I don't see the question as one based in ethics. In my opinion the question really asks for a judgment call about safety which involves no moral analysis. I think most of us would agree that it would be permissible and probably beneficial for children to be socially interactive but not with adult strangers.  With the internet that is a real risk - threat. Your "ethics" question is analogous to: "Would you allow your minor child to cross the street"? Your answer would probably depend on the age and maturity of your child and the amount and speed of traffic on the street but it wouldn't really require any ethical considerations. It is a risk analysis and not an ethical analysis. We're not really being asked what is good and what is bad  - we're being asked what is safe. An ethical question would be: Would you pay for your Daughter's abortion? or Would you counsel your pubescent child about birth control?
That's my take anyway.
Mike

[Cherie762]

Hi Utah, wow i would love an ethics class, we discussed a bit in physchology but the topic is right up my alley, answer to your question and I have 3 kids, 12, 15 and 18, we keep our computer in a common room , My husband and i put as many fire walls and parental controls as we could I would not let my 12 yo set up a social network, my 15 and 18 yo have a myspace, the 18 yo is a legal adult so we do not monitor him anymore the 15 yo we have his password, allow him privacy , but about once a month do a quick scan just to protect him and make sure hes not doing anything stupid like the time he posted a photo of himself infront of his school with the schools name visable, gave him a good talk about that.



got another ethical question...someone gives you back too much change at the store, lets say $20.00 what do you do?

[teko]

Awe, shoot, I thought we were helping you! Tis fun!!!!!  Oh well, interesting posts.

[Please_Help950]

Oh, no you honestly aren't helping me cheat. :( I honestly don't believe in cheating and I believe that it is very wrong. I have already answered those questions on my homework assignment and my very first response on this post is what I placed on the assignment. :)

The reason that I decided to ask these questions is because I thought it would be interesting what everyone's opinion would be on these questions. :) :) :)

[ChitChatNine]

I think at least 15 yrs old with passwords of the PC to check on the cookie files as well as passwords to the social site if not even one step better.. the adult creates an account and the minor is the adult's "friend".  The only problem is that they sometimes set up two accounts .. the one they show the adult and then the other one.

They can be bad news ...college recruiters look for and at them as well as perspective employers.  One cannot emphasize enough the predators out there as well as the good people out there who determine one's future.

C~

[teko]

I think while a minor, they need to concentrate on other more important things, more closely related to their needs. There is plenty of time for that stuff. Besides, turning a child loose on a computer is simply bad parenting. These days!

Are we helping you cheat?

[TrudieC]

Depending on the age (should be at least 13 but depends on maturity level of the child) I would allow them to set one up but insist that they share their password with me and include me as a friend so I can monitor the activity.  Educating them on the dangers is necessary and periodically check out any personal messages with their password.

[Please_Help950]

My advice to a parent of minor children would be to wait until your child is old enough to understand the risks of an Online Social Networking Site before allowing them to create one. Wait until they are at least 17 or 18 years old. The reason that I say that is because there are a lot of child predators on those social networking sites with MySpace being one of the worse. Making them wait will help keep them safe from these dangers and also help them realize them as they become older and more mature.