@baseball687, I get that you are a kid and everything.
But you don’t get to talk for all the posters kids. People post stuff on Facebook, they wish their kids happy birthday. They post pictures and tell the world they love them.
It’s ok, none of these kids will die of embarrassment. If they didn’t like it, they can tell their parents. You can tell yours, which I’m sure you do
Posting a birthday message and pictures is way different than posting TMI messages between spouses on a public board.
And some of these “kids” are older, even gasp in their 30’s. Who have been around Facebook since it was just for college students
I think it’s sad that people aren’t writing letters and developing photos. I think it’s sad some parents think a Facebook post is what their kids are going to remember.
I love developing photos. I love holding them in my hand and looking at that from time to time. I am lucky that I still have friends that like to send letters. Sure, we can e-mail, but a letter is just so personal.
I tell my kids and I tell my friends I love my kids. I say I love you to my partner in front of our friends sometimes.
I make photobooks of major events and family trips. But with the ease of camera phones, I dont print out every photo I take. Yes its “sad” that much of what I leave behind will be online versus “paper” but I figure its better than nothing.
Its great you write letters. Thats your choice and many might think that in fact is “weird”. You keep doing you. I will keep doing whats right for me. My kids have survived my parenting so far. I dont bring major emotions either way to social media. I dont look to social media for validation of anything. Im emotionally healthy with typical highs and lows. My kids and family dont need social media to know what Im feeling or what is going on with my life. I use it for fun and to keep in touch with people who I dont get to see often because working 2 jobs and juggling 3 teens busy schedules doesnt give me much free time to myself. Im all good.
I don’t have any friends that post to their spouses. The thing that strikes me odd is the single, middle-aged woman who is constantly changing her profile picture and they are always model style posing selfies. This hs friend used to change her photo weekly. The pouty faces made me laugh. I get trying to get a good angle, but some of them were so - weird.
I’ve read a few articles by psychologist who say couples who are constantly posting about their relationship are the ones whose aren’t truly so great. Kind of trying to convince themselves there isn’t trouble in paradise.
A birthday or anniversary isn’t “random”. If my kid performs in a musical and I post a photo of them and say “Im so proud of this kid”, that isnt “random”. Context is key here.
I post photos to share with my friends because we like learning from each other and get vacation tips from each other all the time. Im getting married at 47 years old and dont need validation from anyone but myself but thanks.
I understand that you think social media is the devil. I do agree that many abuse it for their own self confidence.
People can use social media appropriately without needing validation. I agree that posting barely clothed pics is a cry for validation. Theres a difference between reporting and seeking validation.
validation: noun: means…
the action of checking or proving the validity or accuracy of something.
the action of making or declaring something legally or officially acceptable.
recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile.
reporting: verb: means…
give a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated.
I use social media to report goings on in my social life to family and friends spread out all over the US. While a phone call is great and I agree that people need to be more connected beyond social media, its simply not feasible for me to call all my family members and snail mail them all photos of my kids at events. Our family cares and wants to know and see things and social media is our chosen platform.
One could say you are using this platform to validate your own feelings and opinions on social media. Its obvious we disagree about context and some issue overall. You have the right to your opinion and I have the right to mine. Hate me as you wish.
I am so proud of the person you have become! And I can’t wait to see what the future brings! I can’t believe that x years ago you came into our life! (Insert newborn picture here) ?
