Facebook: watching the watchers

Until seven weeks ago, Shelley van der Spank heard just two words when she asked her two teens about their lives: ?Oh, nothing.?

As in, ?What did you learn at school today?? ?Oh, nothing.? ?What are you doing on the computer all day?? ?Oh, nothing.? ?What is this Facebook thing I'm always hearing about?? ?Oh, nothing.?

Ms. van der Spank eventually figured out that last one for herself. In late April, she signed up for Facebook, added her kids to her friends list and gained access to a new realm of teen expression she wasn't entirely comfortable with.

?I thought some pictures of girls in their bathing suits were a little inappropriate for others to view and told them,? Ms. van der Spank says.

But just when she started to think Facebook was an infallible new weapon in the battle to keep tabs on her children, the unexpected happened: The teens began spying on her.

?They snoop on my screen, count my friends, view my pictures ? and offer silly comments,? says Ms. van der Spank, who is now resorting to privacy measures normally reserved for teens blocking nosy parents.


If the kids know they're being watched it might help a bit.