“A mother justifies snooping through her children’s phones by claiming she has the right to do so as she pays for them.”

The debate over parental monitoring of children’s phones and online activity is not a new one, and it seems that it’s only becoming more contentious as time goes on. 

Recently, a mother caused controversy online when she said that since she is the one who pays for her children’s phones, she is entitled to look through them.

To prevent her 15-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter from becoming addicted to technology, Laura Muse has openly acknowledged taking their phones away from them before bed.

But this North Carolina mother spends some time going through them to make sure her teens are acting appropriately, whereas most people would expect her to put them away until the next morning.

The 41-year-old stressed in an interview with The New York Post that she is authorized to use their phones because she pays for them.

“I bought their phones, and I own them. They are available for me to review at any time, she said. “People may think [it] is disrespectful or an invasion of their privacy, but this is how I manage my ship,” the ship’s captain said.

The mom-of-two still periodically asks her children for their handheld gadgets to look over, continuing what began as sporadic, weekly inspections when they were approximately 11 years old.

Muse further disclosed to the publication that, despite her confidence in her children, she still conducts checks to keep them from indulging in improper activities and to shield them from internet predators and scammers.

But that doesn’t mean the 41-year-old, a mental health counselor, hasn’t also gotten them. She allegedly discovered her son Cohen uploading images of himself online without a shirt on in the past. Naturally, the hawk-eyed mother persuaded him to remove the content.

If I do discover something problematic, we discuss it and use it as a teaching opportunity, she continued. It’s vital to keep an eye on things, but I’m not perfect, and I don’t want my kids to be either.

And Muse is not the only mother utilizing this contentious technique to watch their children.

To ensure that their children’s phones don’t contain anything troubling, other parents have resorted to spying on them.

When a horrified mother glanced through his phone at six in the morning, she found that her 15-year-old son was sending his girlfriend obscene images of himself. The video showed her in action searching through her teen’s phone while massaging her forehead, obviously irate, and using the TikTok sound “I’m going to lose my s*** today”.

While some individuals applauded the decision and claimed to be following suit, others criticized her lack of faith.

“One thing my parents did with us that I won’t do with my children is to never search their phones. One person remarked, “They instilled the idea that we deserve a certain amount of privacy. The mum responded, saying: “Everyone has their own parenting style. To some extent, I am forgiving. Child p*** is unacceptable in my opinion. It makes no difference that they are both minors, down [sic].

No privacy when I pay his expenses, the nonchalant mum said when another commenter said: “Privacy is good, But the internet is DANGEROUS.”

Regardless of where parents fall on this spectrum, it’s important to remember that open communication is key. Talking to kids about the dangers of the internet and the importance of making good choices is often more effective than simply monitoring their every move. And if parents do choose to monitor their kids’ phones, it’s important to explain why they’re doing so and to do it in a way that doesn’t feel like a violation of trust.

There’s no one right way to parent. Each family is different, and what works for one may not work for another. The important thing is to be thoughtful about the choices we make and to do what we can to keep our children safe while also respecting their privacy and independence.