Parenting In Social Media

Growing up in today's society is more pressure then my generation could ever imagine thanks to social media. I keep watching the middle schoolers in the lunch room taking selfies and wondering how all of the pics they take and put on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook could have an impact on their safety, confidence, and future.

It is hard enough being a kid. There isn't anything knew about wearing the "right" pair of sneakers, having a awkward body, trying to fit in, and getting over being out of your comfort zone. These are all things that have been demonstrated throughout generations. Social media's impact however, is a new game. A scary, scary game.

I understand how we are moving to more technology, and pushing our schools to demonstrate learning through it. However, it frightens me that kids have so much accessibility to not only those who know them, but also to those that don't.

Recently, while speaking to a Mom who has a middle schooler, she told me about her daughter wanting to text. She put down strict rules of monitoring her texts, and who she was able to text. Although the transition went smoothly, I kept thinking how hard it is as a Mom to open that door. Let's be honest, if we were to monitor all of our kids online activity it would end up being a full-time job. I just couldn't comprehend opening that door, trusting your kid, and praying they are safe. The only thing I could compare that fear to when I was growing up is parents letting kids go to parties with possible alcohol and hoping their kid made right choices. Similar-yes-- but the part of the Internet letting the world in scares me.

What will my kids future employer think when they google my kids name and see's selfies, tweets, etc, that depict my child is a certain way that is less then pleasing? How can I be sure the selfie my daughter took in her bikini someday doesn't end up in the hands of a sicko that can read the location it was taken and find her? How do I know that my child isn't being bullied or bullying another peer when it is so easy so say words on the Internet then in person? And what about these cutesy groups kids are creating -like "tap a titty Tuesday" at schools across the nation? Can we please go back to passing notes and using the good ol' telephone strapped to the wall so that adult can monitor content?

Yep. That's me sounding like a grandma. I'm just scared what is to come in a few years. A lot of these worries are creeping up on me when I see the kids at their lockers in middle school and hear the things they are saying. It is an entirely different time, playing by entirely different rules. I can never say "When I was your age I experienced the same thing"-- because the world didn't have access to me and my immature choices of putting out certain things to the world that could come back to haunt me.

I just keep praying I will know how to monitor, and keep them safe. That my kids will know better and do better. That my Mom worry is full of emptiness, and that they learn to live in a world of technology unharmed. I pray they will still know how to spend quality time with people, that they know how to build rich friendships/relationships in real time, that they use the phone, write cards/letters, and while at dinner speak with those they are eating with while not caught up on Facebook with what someone else is eating.

The lesson of technology is a hard one. We want our kids to be educated on it. We want them to be scholars. However, what price is it paying ultimately on our kids as social human beings. Will they know how to seize the moment? Will they know how to drive without a gps? Travel without someone being able to get ahold of them right there right now? Does the world-- heck do I--need to know what and where they are every second of every day?

Clearly I adore social media. Clearly I lack at some of the things I hope my kids don't do. The difference being, I am a mature adult who knows how to navigate between right and wrong. I am not naive to the way the world works. And I just want to keep them safe.