The first social-media babies are growing up—and they’re horrified
On social media, viewers (myself among them) are easily engrossed by the intimate details of other people’s lives. But such posts can live forever, and that permanence has been a struggle for the kids who never intended to have their childhood broadcast online. “The children of the Facebook era—which truly began in 2006, when the platform opened to everyone—are growing up, preparing to enter the workforce, and facing the consequences of their parents’ social-media use,” Kate Lindsay wrote last year. “Many are filling the shoes of a digital persona that’s already been created, and that they have no power to erase.”
In a rapidly evolving and largely unregulated digital world, kids have more unfettered access to social media than ever but limited control over what’s posted about them. In turn, modern-day parents have a new role: figuring out which details about their children can be safely shared online—and which moments should stay private.
Today’s newsletter brings you stories about the children who grew up on social media.
领英推荐
Engagement Leader | Communications Strategist
6 个月People shared pictures, anecdotes, etc., about their children and didn't understand (and still don't) that data from their posts is living indefinitely on servers or that it's accessible, tangible, valuable, and potentially dangerous. We haven't reached a point in time where we understand digitally shared language and photos=data=object of risk. Before FB, everyone still wanted to share their children's first day of school pics. They still wanted to tell everyone who'd listen about their child's milestones, triumphs, and failings—kids' bad haircuts, missing teeth, scraped knees, witty comments, etc., were still notable personal details parents wanted to share with anyone who would listen. We still wanted to pass around candy and cookie order forms along with details about the child behind the sales. The difference is that there were real physical limits to the shareable audience... Well, except for once emailed family newsletters became a thing. People have always wanted to believe that they are part of a community (both immediate/intimate and broad/public) that cares about their children and wants to engage in a communal discourse about life and family. The intent ≠ the execution, but no on told us that for years.
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6 个月Any other parents not understand this need to post private details about their kids to the public at all? I’d been on FB for years by the time I had kids. And I’m not immune to social media- I’ve got a pretty significant following on 2 other platforms (not LinkedIn). I’ve never felt the compulsion to air details about lives that weren’t my own (or even details about my own) to random strangers. You can’t take information back. Haven’t any of these parents had a secret leak out about them in the past - or, I don’t know, seen a Lifetime movie? The personal may be political, but that doesn’t mean it has to be public.
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6 个月Good point!