At what age do parents lose their authorty over children?

[BlueEyedLady]

They can work. I’ve personally found that they’re often more stable and supportive than many of my offline friendships. Especially for today’s young adult where everyone seems to be moving every 2-3 years, the online friendships can be more stable and long-lasting than offline friendships that by and large die when one person moves away.

I interact with people on the internet in the most Public Service Announcement way possible. I treat everyone as just a screen name. Sure, I enjoy a good private conversation or banter once in a while, but I’m always aware the person on the other end could be anyone from my boss, to the NSA, to Big Meech.

That aside, I really don’t think it’s good for anyone, but especially young people, to replace real interaction with electronic. Even when friends move away and you can only interact via Skype/text/Facebook, there’s a genuine trust and intimacy that just comes from knowing what it’s like to be in the other’s presence. E-friendships may work best for some people, but the idea really concerns me and it will probably be something my kid will need to explore after he’s/she’s out of the house.

 

[DarkLight]

I interact with people on the internet in the most Public Service Announcement way possible. I treat everyone as just a screen name. Sure, I enjoy a good private conversation or banter once in a while, but I’m always aware the person on the other end could be anyone from my boss, to the NSA, to Big Meech.

That aside, I really don’t think it’s good for anyone, but especially young people, to replace real interaction with electronic. Even when friends move away and you can only interact via Skype/text/Facebook, there’s a genuine trust and intimacy that just comes from knowing what it’s like to be in the other’s presence. E-friendships may work best for some people, but the idea really concerns me and it will probably be something my kid will need to explore after he’s/she’s out of the house.

I’ve had some really spectacular betrayals from real life friends too - people I thought I knew well who just turned out to be not who I thought they were. Sometimes it’s not much more guarantee.