Responsible parents will want to know how their children use the computer. It is not always so much of a trust issue as it is a more diligent watchful eye over their activities. After all, haven't you ever used a search engine and gotten surprising results? It happens.

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Most modern operating systems offer parental controls which can limit what programs can be run, what websites can be accessed, and what hours of the day the account is active. Additional software can monitor search terms, social networking sites, instant messaging, hours of use per day, and other metrics.

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Kids are computer-savvy these days. They know about browsers' private browsing mode, or how to delete their history or chat sessions. Younger siblings may try to run games installed for older children. And you can't always see what ads are on the webpages they legitimately visit for schoolwork or recreation.

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I have kids. More accurately, I have 5 kids. And they all use our computers. From toddler to teenager, I want to make sure I know about their computer usage. It can be difficult to balance trust with restrictions, but technology can be used to monitor and/or police the activities.  With multiple people of varying ages and maturity, and all the Internet accessible devices in our home, it can be a challenge to keep track of who is doing what, but I know what they are or are not doing under my roof, and I don't know what they do elsewhere.​