MSN - not happy about 12 yr old using it - are yours on it?

[SecondhandRose]

My 12 yr old DS is using MSN to 'talk' to school friends. But all I see is a load of derogatory sh*te and swearing. And I am not happy about him using it. He thinks I am over reacting.

Can I look back at past posts he has received and posted? Or is it all live?

my DD uses it and she is 11; however I don't see any swearing but lots of rubbish chat.
you can save all conversations so that you can go back and check if you feel something is wrong, although maybe that invades their privacy. sometimes even telling them that the conversations are saved may be enough.

i found this....

On the Tools menu, click Options. (If the menu bar doesn't appear at the top of the conversation window, the window frame may be hidden. Click in the upper left corner of the window, or press ALT to restore it.)
In the left pane, click Messages.
Under Message History, select the Automatically keep a history of my conversations check box.
Optional: Change the directory where your message history is saved.Under Save my conversations in this folder, click Change. Click the new location.
Click OK

as AQ said......if you go to

Tools (in the windows messenger toolbar)
Options
Messages
Message History & select "Automatically keep a history of my converstaions"
Apply
OK

Will he know I have done it?

I just hate the way this stuff is appearing on our computer, I have no control of what is appearing and when you see young a child talking about 'this effin teacher needs to get a life' - it just makes me see red.

My 11 year old is on MSM with her school friends - but I have made a deal with her. She is only allowed to "chat" with a group of people I know and she has to ask before she includes anyone on her "list". I don't know how I will manage it when she goes to Secondary school, though! I think I might say that I wouldn't have language on the computer in my living room that I wouldn't allow people to use in real life - or does that sound a bit precious? I will be very interested to see others think - sorry I've not been much help!

he won't know that you have done it, but i think you should tell him

DD is 9 (nearly 10) and does use MSN but I know exactly who is on her list (she does not add people without asking first) and to be honest I think there is only one friend on there the rest are family.

I will get more concerned as she gets older (teenage) and will definately keep conversations and check them!

Ds is 11 and not allowed to use it. He has a pc in his room but with no internet access. He can use this one but not for chat sites or msn type things.

my dd is 13 and used to chat to her school friends on msn.

I banned her from using it when she was chatting to people she said were her schoolmates but their user names were (not going to type the names in here - it's a family site!) rather iffy to say the least - relating to anal sex and other sexual practises.

This was maybe confined to her mates, and I think they actually were her mates, but not something I want my dd exposed to so she is now barred from the puter.