TONTITOWN, ARKANSAS: The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a cult-like religious group founded by Bill Gothard in 1961, has long been considered to be the organization behind the foundation of the Duggar family’s core ideologies. These beliefs have been helmed by Jim Bob Duggar and his wife, Michelle, over the years in the process of raising their 19 children.
A new docuseries, titled ‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets', scheduled to release on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, June 2, is set to explore the dark truth beneath the family’s cheerful veneer presented in the TLC reality show, ‘19 Kids and Counting.’ While tales of Duggar and Michelle’s strict parenting rules is not hidden from the public, a new report by The Hollywood Gossip revealed that the couple even admitted to monitoring and spying on their children as part of their ways to exert control over their lives.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar monitor their children’s phones
Duggar and Michelle reportedly attended a livestream event sponsored by IBLP as guests and admitted to spying on their children, including the adult ones, and monitoring their cell phones and computer activity. The couple reportedly confessed that they used an “internet accountability software” program called Covenant Eyes to carry out the monitoring process.
They said that the software allowed them to keep a tab on all the activities on their children’s computers and phones. The couple also revealed that they had monitored the activities of all of their adult children and continued the practice until they moved out. Some critics also pointed out that 30-year-old Jana remains unmarried and was yet to move out of the Duggar household, and never had a private telephonic or online conversation.
People who witnessed the livestream said that Duggar and Michelle did not see anything wrong with the idea of their adult daughter not being able to even send a simple email or text without her parents scanning it for inappropriate content. However, the couple did not explain their reasons for such monitoring. They also refrained from providing details of what they were seeking from monitoring their children.
Duggar children confess their ‘impure thoughts’ every night
During the livestream, Michelle also shared that every night it was mandatory for all the Duggar children to confess the “impure thoughts” they have had during the day. Michelle said that she and Duggar asked each of their children about their daily “struggles” but did not elaborate on the nature of those struggles. They also did not explain the ways they dealt with the “impure thoughts” after the confession.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar claimed their children were ‘on-board’ with monitoring
The Duggar children only move out of the family home when they get married. This meant that the majority of their older children were no longer being monitored. However, at least 11 of the Duggar children still live at the family home, five of whom are adults.
While Joseph married Kendra Caldwell and Josh married Anna, and have children of their own, both Joseph and Josh reside on the family’s Arbor Acres Road property. Duggar and Michelle did not mention if they continued to monitor the older children who still lived on their property despite being married. However, the couple claimed that their children are or were all “on board” with being monitored and controlled.
