La La Land Mommy: 4 Reasons Social Media Isn’t The Place To Punish Your Children
I am noticing a growing trend of parents using social media to punish their children. I am not saying don’t punish your child for their wrongdoings and I am by no means a perfect parent. I just don’t understand the purpose of putting certain things on the internet. Like do you have to post a video of you spanking your child, cutting their hair in a wacky way, or even a video of you running over their Xbox? Now there are times when I do think that social media is perfect for addressing things. Such as there was one video of a parent having her daughter tell her true age because the young lady was lying about her age. I can even see having a child post a message on their page saying they are on punishment for whatever amount of time. However other things I just don’t get it. It is the equivalent of posting a fighting video. What does posting these videos really accomplish?
I think it accomplishes a few things but they aren’t positive. I try to put myself in the shoes of my children and think how I would feel if my parents had social media when I was a kid. I mean when a parent shames or punishes a child, he or she may inadvertently be attacking the child’s personality rather than the behavior intended to be reprimanded. The act of shaming can actually lead the child to believe that there is something wrong with themselves, rather than making them understand that what they did was wrong. As a matter of fact, shame is the most serious consequence of emotionally abusive parenting. The harm done during this period of development can be long-term and emotionally damaging, and may even require the assistance of a child therapist (see the website of Kinspire to learn more) to resolve it. I mean I wasn’t a horrible child but I was far from perfect. I know there were some things that I didn’t want my parents to share online. That’s why I try to refrain from posting some things about them on the blog. I mean I am an open book but my husband and my children aren’t.
Here are four reasons why I don’t think that social media should be used to punish/shame kids:
- The internet is forever. Once you put that video of you doing whatever to your child you can’t take it back.
- It opens your child up to bullying. No they shouldn’t have done whatever they did but they don’t deserve to be bullied either if their friends come across said video.
- Simple question. Would you want this done to you? I believe the punishment should be a private matter.
- Plain and simple. It is downright embarrassing.
Now I’m not telling anyone what to do with their children. If that is the way a parent wants to parent their child then so be it. I just know that I will not be used in my home. I just feel that it’s unnecessary to do. I am even guilty of clicking on some or else I wouldn’t know about them but I do not necessarily agree with these tactics. How do you feel about this new trend? Would you post your punishments choices on the internet?
