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Parenting in a Facebook World
Topic: Social Networking has become very popular with students at (name of school removed because I believe in censorship). During this Parent Partnership workshop parents will get a hands-on look at Facebook when they log in and create an account. Parents will learn how to keep profiles private, learn the lingo of Facebook, and discuss how to talk to their children about Facebook.
This whole thing stems from the first meeting where the kids were issued their laptops (I KNOW!). A few parents strongly suggested that the school should block Facebook.
Hello 1999! Awesome. Let's block Facebook. And while we're at it, the kids shouldn't be able to access wikipedia (because, you know, it's not accurate, except for those references at the bottom), or email. Next thing you know, they'll be blocking porn and blogs too (we all know those two go hand in hand). And there goes MY readership.
Our daughter has a Facebook page. But, hubby ALSO has a Facebook page and has her as his friend. He (we) can keep tabs on her and her friends. Heck, I check up on my own students. It's this simple, people. Which I guess is why they are having the workshop. Because it IS this simple.
And this reminded me of the conversation that Globetrekking Mom and I had about how the Polish people don't check their email. The first time I asked a person (who was not Polish, btw) if she got my email and she said, "Oh, I don't check my email", I was just flabbergasted. I just babbled, "You duh...you don't cheyhhh...what?!?!?" I mean, I don't expect that everyone checks their email every hour like I do, but at least once a day, right? And particularly when you have ASKED SOMEONE TO EMAIL YOU SOMETHING.
*Ring, Ring* "Hello Ula? Yes, I just sent you an email. You should probably check it."
But I'm still amazed that parents of children the same age as my daughter are so technologically impaired. When will it happen to me?
I'm sure it will happen eventually, but not until much later. Or maybe I'm just skewed because I live in Austin which is a major high tech hub. But kudos to your school for helping parents navigate that.
ReplyDeleteI have a facebook (but what do you expect... I'm in college- it's a great distraction) but I know several younger kids who have one too and I'm ok with it as long as it's being monitored. I'm all for parents monitoring their young children's facebook (even having their own and being friends). I think this teaches children to be responsible and when the child gets old enough, then the level of monitoring can be reduced based on the child's age and maturity level. This is great that you do this.
ReplyDeleteLucky for me that my kids don't even know about FB yet. But, I have to agree with you about the technologically challenged - they lurk among us!
ReplyDeleteIt just takes a little effort to stay on top of it. It's not beyond parents who find it important enough to keep track of.
ReplyDeleteP.S. There's an award for you at my site.
My Dad just added me as a friend, and I'm the grand old age of 26...It is a tad odd, because to start with facebook was all young and hip - my younger brother and sister were going on about it - and suddenly my parents, my wife's parents, and (I imagine) soon their parents are all on it. And now there are phones that hook into facebook. Soon we'll all just have some mind-reading chip in our brains that is hooked into facebook. It'll be, um, cough cough, great?
ReplyDeleteI love Facebook. I have finally threatened them, I mean lovingly convinced them, to add me as a friend. We parents have to try SOME how to keep tabs on what they are doing. NOTHING is beneath me. (except hubs. on a good night.)
ReplyDeletePeople who don't check their email constantly are not well. They should be pitied or maybe exiled. Probably both.
ReplyDeleteYou totally have to get on Twitter!
ReplyDelete(I'm really funny, ja?)
It never ends does it?
ReplyDeleteThere is always going to be something else.
Facebook seem so easy to monitor...except for pms....oh, the dreaded pms.....