The Robbins family first found out about the spying when their son Blake was accused by an administrator at Harriton High School of “improper behavior in his home.” The school showed him images of being caught in the act that were taken using the remotely activated webcam.

I smiled inside, recognizing their epiphany and wondering how many of them would go home and repeat these exact words. I can just see it now, the next time a parent says, “Because I said so,” the child launching into, “I know you are just saying that because you think I can’t use my frontal lobe!”

When it comes to technology, we sometimes feel at a loss for the right answer because we don’t understand it. So we say, “Because I said so” when we don’t know what else to say!

Two years ago, I would have said that the chat-room trend seemed to be decreasing. Teens were moving in the direction of social networks. But as video-based chats are surfacing, the trend is moving in the opposite direction.

When I asked a group of senior girls, “Why Chatroulette?” one of them responded, “Without video, people can pretend to be anyone they want. But I can see who I’m talking to with Chatroulette — so it’s totally safe and easier than trying to meet people at a party!”