Parenting and Social Networking - the Great Divide

There is so much going on in the world today and a lot of information out there. Whether it be the good, the bad or the downright ugly, social networking is one of the most popular ways to stay in touch with people (whether we actually know them or not), and to keep apprised of what is going on in the social world around us, whether it be family, friends or the whole world in general. Technology can be an amazing thing, but for some, maybe not.

I am writing today in reference to a video that was posted about a dad who finds something extremely hurtful posted on his daughter’s Facebook page. Now there are always two sides to every argument and I wanted to share with you the responses I had gotten from my fellow students about this video. In the video, a dad explains that he had just gotten through helping his fifteen year old daughter upgrade and fixes her laptop to the tune of $130.00 and the time it took him to help her. What he didn’t count on was finding a derogatory letter written by her, bashing her parents, posted for all her friends to see on Facebook. The dad also mentions that the daughter blocked her mother and father so they could not see what she was doing on her page.

There seems to be a rift of controversy in response to the dad’s video. Some people think that the dad had “no right” to snoop on her Facebook page and she is entitled to “vent” and “she’s allowed to express her opinions”. I, myself, being a parent, can definitely understand why this dad did what he did. She is a fifteen year old minor child. The father is responsible for this child. Some people said he could have, “taken her aside and had a conversation with her about it”, but did she give him the same courtesy? Some people say that he should have sold her electronic articles instead of shooting holes in them, but there is significance as to why he does it.

This story brings something to light that I have been staunch about for a long time as far as posting information for the world to see. Everyone has the right to vent, but keep in mind, there will be a rebuttal. We do have the right to free speech, and it is a powerful and effective tool, but with any tool, it must be used properly in order to be effective. Another point this brings up is simple respect.

Social media is here to stay, but what we put out there and who sees it should be taken into consideration. Pictures, comments and “rants” can deter future employers, that great school you want to get into, maybe even a political career or a great volunteer opportunity. On the flipside of the coin, people who publicly present themselves in a very different light can have a positive effect on prospective employers, colleges, etc. Free speech is a wonderful thing, using it positively can be a beautiful thing.