Laptop Contract for a Teenager

Well, my daughter and I have very different ideas on how a laptop should be used and where it should be used and why is should be used AND how long it should be used. I thought long and hard about the boundaries that should be set when letting a child use the internet as it can be a very scary place and I (with the help of the wonderful world wide web as many other parents have this same problem) have come up with this contract. Some of the ideas are exclusively mine but most I got from other moms and posts online. So here it is:

Laptop Contract for 2013

I know having a laptop is a privilege. I respect that my mom loves me and wants to keep me safe. My mom respects that I am becoming a young adult and want the privilege of having the use of the laptop. With that in mind, we agree:

The laptop will be kept in a public area of the house. It will never be in used in any of the bedrooms or any of the bathrooms.

I will be on the laptop no later than 9pm on School nights (Sunday – Thursday) and 10pm on weekends (Friday – Saturday). The only exception to this rule is sleep overs. If someone stays the night you can stay on the laptop until midnight.

I will only use the laptop for 2 hours per weekday and 4 per weekend day. This includes internet AND non-internet time.

I will plug the laptop in daily to charge overnight. It will be put on the black shelf in the den every night to charge.

My responsibilities come first. I will not use the lap top at all for any reason until my responsibilities are completed for the day. This includes all homeschool and chores (and anything else an adult in the house tells me to do).

I am responsible for letting someone know if the laptop is having any problems (even if it is just moving to slow or internet not working).

I will ALWAYS tell a parent or another adult immediately, if something is confusing or seems scary or threatening.

I will NEVER give out my full name, real address, telephone number, school name or location, schedule, password, or other identifying information when I'm online. I will check with an adult for any exceptions.

I will NEVER have a face-to-face meeting with someone I've met online. In rare cases, my parents may decide it's OK, but if I do decide to meet a cyberpal, I will make sure we meet in a public place and that a parent or guardian is with me.

I will NEVER respond online to any messages that use bad words or words that are scary, threatening, or just feel weird. If I get that kind of message, I'll print it out and tell an adult immediately. The adult can then contact the online service or appropriate agency. If I'm uncomfortable in a live chat room, I will use the "ignore" button.

I will NEVER go into a new online area that is going to cost additional money without first asking permission from my parent or teacher.

I will NEVER send a picture over the Internet or via regular mail to anyone without my parent's permission. You can post pictures of facebook but that is IT! And those pictures should be taken in a way that people can’t tell where you are. If it is a picture that you would not show your mother, do NOT post it on facebook.

I will NOT give out a credit card number online without a parent present.

I will not video blog unless my mom has seen the video first.

My mom agrees also to limit time on the computer and to never use the computer in the bedroom or bathroom. All computers will be used in public areas of the house.

Signature: _________________________________________ Date: ______________________

Signature:__________________________________________ Date: ______________________