This is, I have come to conclude, not the message about online (and offline) privacy that I want to send my children.
Now I know there are hundreds is not thousands of people who can have social networking accounts and use them responsibly without feeling the need to post about what they had for breakfast or whether they have a pimple on their nose or whether their kids have a cough or a math test this morning, but I am not one of those people.
When I have a Facebook account I share stuff. I OVERshare stuff. I share just about everything from what we're eating to where we're going to what I'm wearing and which T.V. shows I'm watching. I document it all with commentaries and photographs and little to no filter. And my kids have come to expect that this is normal and how things are.
But that is not safe for them. It's one thing for me, a grown woman with a limited set of mature online friends and knowledge about privacy settings to overshare. It'll be quite another when my girls do it when they're 16 or 18 or 20. It'll be different for them because they won't be settled down, they won't be just chatting with other Moms, they will have grown up with this and will think nothing of it -- and that's not what I want for them.
So I'm going to stop putting their lives (and mine) online. I'm going to try to learn about discretion and privacy and appropriate sharing. I'm not going to snap photos of our supper or every new piece of clothing or jewelry I buy. I'm going to protect my girls and myself from my overwhelming need to get constant approval and acknowledgement from other people.
And I will clean up my Facebook account -- and then I just might delete it altogether.
8 comments:
I will miss you so much. I can't even say how much. :0-(
You are so amazing, Julie. Such an inspiration. I will miss you and your posts, and your weight loss journey so so much. All my love and best wishes to you. -Kendell
I'm sorry you feel as though you overshare and seek approval. I have never felt like you put any of your family at risk with what you share, but we all have different comfort levels. I may be an oversharer myself, but with a limited and low support system in my area, I think I just make close and selective friends and let them see my life. I am sorry to see you go but I respect your choices. Love, Nicole
I understand why you are doing it, I just will miss seeing you online and having that easy online way to communicate with you. At least I can text and call and we can still make plans for movies. xx
Julie, you have an inordinate amount of common sense! Wish I shared that .... I'll miss you on FB, but I'll find you here!! :-)
You know I will miss you? Right?! I will. But I also know I can email you and that our friendship is not just based on some social networking site.
Love you, my friend. xoxo
I shall visit you here. :) I am a crazy texter too so if you would like we can exchange phone numbers.
I will visit her though when I can, I promise. :)
Thank you for all your supportive words and advice. Always appreciated Julie. :)
I have always admired you for your honesty and willingness to share! I found your honesty refreshing and never once thought you were seeking out approval. I will definitely miss seeing your posts on fb, but I'm hopeful that you will continue to blog. Even though we have never met in person I consider you a friend. I truly admire and respect you and your decision! :)
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