The mom thinks it’s okay to check her kids’ phones because she’s the one paying for them.

Being a parent is never easy. Each new generation of moms and dads faces different challenges and problems while trying to make the best choices for their kids.

Today’s parents have to deal with things that didn’t exist in the past, like the internet and smartphones. These things bring up arguments about how much time kids should spend on screens.

When it comes to parental choices, people always have strong opinions. Laura Muse, a mom from North Carolina, caused a debate when she admitted to checking her kids’ phones to see what they’re doing and who they’re talking to.

Nowadays, it’s hard for parents to say no to giving their kids smartphones. Phones are used for almost everything, and kids notice that as they grow up.

It’s smart to wait as long as you can before giving your kid a phone, and it’s natural to want to know what they’re doing with it once they have it.

But where do you draw the line between being cautious as a parent and respecting your child’s privacy? That’s a tough question.

In 2022, Laura Muse from North Carolina caused a big debate online. She said she regularly checks her kids’ phones because she pays for them.

Laura’s kids, who are 15 and 17, have to give her their phones before they go to bed so they don’t stay up late using them.

Laura told the New York Post, “I own their phones; I pay for the phones. I can go through them whenever I want. Some people might think it’s disrespectful or invading their privacy, but this is how I manage things in my house.”

Laura started checking her kids’ phones weekly when they were 11, and she still does it now that they’re teenagers. She trusts her kids, but she wants to make sure they’re not doing anything wrong on their phones, like talking to strangers or sharing inappropriate stuff.

Laura, who is 41 and works as a mental health clinician, once found out that her son had posted a picture of himself without a shirt online.

“If I find something wrong, we talk about it and learn from it,” she said. “I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect my kids to be perfect, but it’s important to keep an eye on things.”

While many people understand Laura’s way of checking her kids’ phones, some disagree. They say it’s not right for parents to invade their kids’ privacy.

On TikTok, some users criticized a mom for looking through her child’s phone. They said parents should respect their kids’ boundaries and not snoop on their phones.

In 2022, a TikToker named Gillian Margonis got millions of views on a video where she said parents shouldn’t look through their kids’ phones. She said phones are like personal space, just like a bedroom, and parents shouldn’t invade that privacy.

What do you think about this? Should parents like Laura be allowed to check their kids’ phones? Let us know in the comments.