Editorial: What price safety?

How much do you trust your teenagers?

Because that's really what this - installing spy software on their phones - comes down to.

The issue arose at a Rotorua Coroner's inquest into the death of a text-bullied teen who'd had an affair with a much older married man.

A software company gave evidence at the inquest stating that if New Zealand telecommunications companies got behind the initiative, spy software could be available on all New Zealand cellphones for $200,000.

The business operates through a website that allows parents to sign up their child's cellphone number and then see any calls or texts made to and from the phone.

The audio is not recorded but the time, duration and the number dialled are.

The time, date and content of text messages are also available for parents to see.

With smartphones, parents can see what websites their child has visited.

The site also provides a tracking service so parents can find out where their child is.

We'd all like to think that our kids won't get into strife, that they're level-headed and show commonsense.

But bad things can happen to good people.

The price you may pay for spying on your kids is that your teens feel you don't trust them, causing lasting damage.

But for parents whose younger tweens and teens have phones, this could be an invaluable service.

And if you're paying the phone bill they'd be hard-pressed to argue.

For older teens who may feel they need their freedom and their secrets - fair enough, install the software and tell them you'll only use it in an emergency or if there are serious concerns. Trust works both ways. You trust them to do the right thing and they trust you won't unnecessarily invade their privacy.

Big Mother and Father are watching you.

But is that such a bad thing?