text: do we have the right as parents to check our daughter (age 16) and son (age 17) e-mails? son gave us user name/password no complaints.  logged on to see if he was telling the truth and yes he was.  did not open e-mails.  trust him. daughter gave us user/name password reluctantly.  couldn't log on.  don't trust her.  should we confront her about it? no, if you allow them to have their own email accounts, then you show them that you trust them. if you go checking that email, you break that trust. if your kids find out, they will not understand. if you suspect that they are doing something that they shouldn't, ask. keep tabs on where they go and who they're with. call to make sure that they're where they say they are. it is possible to do this without snooping.