Teach them internet safety and etiquette. Kids don't fully appreciate that awful people exist or that there are a lot of them, or that they can use the guise of the internet to abuse and exploit people in ways they've never considered before.
> - Do I give them the ability to do online purchases?
Depends on the age, this one I'd say no. Let them spend their own money how they see fit, but also educate them about scams and shitty business practices. Don't give them a blank check to buy whatever they want unless you want to incentivize addictive purchasing habits from in-game and in-app purchases. It often amounts to literal gambling, and kids are easy targets for the unscrupulous.
> - Do I limit their "screen time" (hate that term) or will that prevent them from interacting with their friends in the way they would want to?
You can hobble phones and tablets and force them to only run approved apps. Let them text and video chat with their friends and keep them away from exploitative business models.
Other than that, I appreciate your respect for your kids' privacy. My experience growing up with friends that had invasive parents is that they just learn to hide things well from their parents, and become averse to telling them the truth because they've learned they can't trust their parents. If your kids have a problem, you want them to come to you for help and not avoid you until they can't anymore.
> - Do I give them the ability to do online purchases?
Depends on the age, this one I'd say no. Let them spend their own money how they see fit, but also educate them about scams and shitty business practices. Don't give them a blank check to buy whatever they want unless you want to incentivize addictive purchasing habits from in-game and in-app purchases. It often amounts to literal gambling, and kids are easy targets for the unscrupulous.
> - Do I limit their "screen time" (hate that term) or will that prevent them from interacting with their friends in the way they would want to?
You can hobble phones and tablets and force them to only run approved apps. Let them text and video chat with their friends and keep them away from exploitative business models.
Other than that, I appreciate your respect for your kids' privacy. My experience growing up with friends that had invasive parents is that they just learn to hide things well from their parents, and become averse to telling them the truth because they've learned they can't trust their parents. If your kids have a problem, you want them to come to you for help and not avoid you until they can't anymore.