Online Dependency
At a recent open mic, this lovely young poet, AVC, recited an original piece about rocky love. There was a certain lyric expressed that resonated with me for some time. I don't want to try and butcher her charming wordplay, so I'll just paraphrase the jist of it...
He didn't want anyone all up in his business but updated his Facebook status with what he had for breakfast.
When someone has a fight with the lovey-dovey, when baby snug-a-loo takes the first steps, when someone gets a new job or gets demoted, they run to Facebook. Or Tweet their worries away. Some may even Pin their cope-with-stress methods. Throughout it all, is it expected to be private? According to social media guru Bruce Newman, social media privacy does not exist. Newman writes in the Westchester County Business Journal that even sending an email to a person or a group of people doesn't guarantee that the message will remain private. Social means public and what was posted was put online for a reason. Anything transmitted through the world wide web can be picked up and hacked at anytime, even this post I'm writing (it happened before..it was so inconvenient, but I digress).
In a society that tries to regulate what is normal and couth, people have increasingly become dependent on electronic approvals from both peers and strangers (you know, that friend you don't know who liked your pic but because s/he is friends with your cousin, you're cool with them now). This can be a good advantage if you applied for a job or passed a test for an online course. But let's be rational about these public outlets. Do you really think that telling the world about the headache you got from a disagreement with your mom and dad will make you a better person? Isn't that what diaries and personal journals are for?
The one thing I appreciate about "Doug," "As Told By Ginger," "Harriet the Spy," and other similar shows and movies is how their notebooks became a gateway to their world. Despite these programs being created for entertainment and comedic relief, one can simply choose whom they want in their world. Times and generations have passed and "think before you speak" has morphed into "watch what you post."
Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC, shared some cell phone safety tips in the December issue of Hudson Valley Parent Magazine. Most kids, tweens, teens and young people know how to operate a smart phone. One day they will have one of their own. If they can learn how to access pretty princess and Angry Bird games, it won't be long before you have to have the talk about sex and sexting. This doesn't have to apply to just parents and children.
Have you seen "To Catch a Predator" or "The Craigslist Killer?" Need I say more? Good. Now handle your business for the sake of you and your loved ones.
He didn't want anyone all up in his business but updated his Facebook status with what he had for breakfast.
When someone has a fight with the lovey-dovey, when baby snug-a-loo takes the first steps, when someone gets a new job or gets demoted, they run to Facebook. Or Tweet their worries away. Some may even Pin their cope-with-stress methods. Throughout it all, is it expected to be private? According to social media guru Bruce Newman, social media privacy does not exist. Newman writes in the Westchester County Business Journal that even sending an email to a person or a group of people doesn't guarantee that the message will remain private. Social means public and what was posted was put online for a reason. Anything transmitted through the world wide web can be picked up and hacked at anytime, even this post I'm writing (it happened before..it was so inconvenient, but I digress).
In a society that tries to regulate what is normal and couth, people have increasingly become dependent on electronic approvals from both peers and strangers (you know, that friend you don't know who liked your pic but because s/he is friends with your cousin, you're cool with them now). This can be a good advantage if you applied for a job or passed a test for an online course. But let's be rational about these public outlets. Do you really think that telling the world about the headache you got from a disagreement with your mom and dad will make you a better person? Isn't that what diaries and personal journals are for?
The one thing I appreciate about "Doug," "As Told By Ginger," "Harriet the Spy," and other similar shows and movies is how their notebooks became a gateway to their world. Despite these programs being created for entertainment and comedic relief, one can simply choose whom they want in their world. Times and generations have passed and "think before you speak" has morphed into "watch what you post."
Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC, shared some cell phone safety tips in the December issue of Hudson Valley Parent Magazine. Most kids, tweens, teens and young people know how to operate a smart phone. One day they will have one of their own. If they can learn how to access pretty princess and Angry Bird games, it won't be long before you have to have the talk about sex and sexting. This doesn't have to apply to just parents and children.
Have you seen "To Catch a Predator" or "The Craigslist Killer?" Need I say more? Good. Now handle your business for the sake of you and your loved ones.
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| Photo courtesy of Discovery News. |
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