Are You Responsible for Your Child’s Online Reputation?
Learn how you the Parent Can Protect Your Children’s Reputation
In a world where social media had become a way of life, it was inevitable that it would soon destroy areas it was never meant to be in the first place. You know what I’m talking about and have probably seen it – the photos, videos and social medial status updates of frustrated parents venting about their children. Without even thinking twice, parents will post the latest mistakes and wrong decisions of their children, putting their shame on the web for the entire world to see, forever scarring them without even knowing it.
So what’s the problem you ask? Well, there seems to be a growing trend of parents ridiculing and demeaning their kids on social media sites. In other words, parents are using social media to publicly shame their children for their acts of wrongdoing…this is nothing less than parental bullying if you ask me and should be of great concern, especially for the sake of the children’s future and reputation.
The question is not whether posting a cute picture of our children or updating our status with a silly anecdote revolving around them is right or wrong. The question is whether it will have any impact on their future or reputation.
As little control as we have over what is discoverable on the internet anymore, the more pictures and posts we add to the web about our children, the more we open them up to the risks of damaging their reputation and possibly their futures as well.
Here are a few reasons as a parent you should reconsider what you’ll post about your children on social media sites:
- Our children look up to us and view us as role models in their lives. They learn from our behaviour and what they see is what they will eventually do. We can’t expect to lecture them on things that we ourselves do.
- When we post on social media sites, we are creating a lasting image for our children (and ourselves). Each venting post, whether by picture, video or status update, leaves a personal brand imprint of the both of us. We need to teach our children to respect themselves as well as others on social media sites and that the permanence of what is posted online can ultimately have dangerous effects.
- There is a chance we are connected to people that will have an influence over our child’s future. Without even knowing it, we might be virtually associated with community leaders, school authorities, law enforcement, or potential future employers. The list goes on and on.
- What happens on Facebook will more than likely not stay on Facebook. Nothing posted on a social media site should ever be considered private. What is once posted on Facebook will probably end up on Twitter or other social media sites and might eventually even make its way to school classrooms, neighbourhood parties, and even phone conversations.
But what could it cost parents who post their children’s mistakes on social media sites?
- In essence, the children will learn to fear their parents (as in, be terrified of them)!
- They will know that when they make a mistake, they will be put out to a world of online bullying and ridicule by their own parents.
- Mocking them and sharing their mistakes and weaknesses with the entire world is a sure means of your children losing their complete trust in you as a parent.
- They might even grant you “The Cruelest Parent Ever” award with a nice little blue ribbon.
- These children’s characters will be built on nothing more than the value and importance of outward perception and public approval alone.
- They will believe they are no more than a joke, nothing to be taken seriously. Their mistakes and weaknesses the only commodity to sell.
- Worst of all, one day, they just might treat you the way you treated them.
So, next time you have the urge to post that video or picture or to update your status with the latest news of “Can you believe what little Johnny did again?” just remember that the future, reputation and emotional world of your children is riding on you!
Be the rock you were meant to be to them and build a solid, lasting reputation they don’t ever have to be ashamed of.
How About You?
What are your thoughts? Have you lately noticed a trend toward good or bad with parents impacting their child’s reputation online?
