How quickly the internet world erupts. I wanted to wait this last explosion out to see what the outcome would be. I am referring to the mother, Mrs. Hall who wrote a blog post to teenage girls regarding the pictures they post of themselves on social media. Although many of my friends had posted her link on their FB page, I mostly ignored it because I currently do not have teenage girls and I tend to mostly read articles that have to do with raising babies and toddlers. Before reading her post though, I was drawn to another blog that was more of a spoof or sarcastic reply to Mrs. Hall's. After reading that post, I had to go back and look into what all the fuss was about. I applaud Mrs. Hall for having the courage to sit down with her children and teach them about what is appropriate and inappropriate on the internet.
I spent way too much time reading the comments she received and I grew increasingly more and more frustrated with all the backlash she was receiving for being a "PARENT." It seems that we have forgotten what the role of a parent is in this world. We are not here to be our child's best friend or laugh together over provocative photos of their classmates. We are here to teach them about virtue, honesty, responsibility, how to make appropriate and upstanding decisions, and a host of other choices. In one comment, Mrs. Hall was referred to as a Helicopter Parent and that she should be shamed for being such. What parent out there would consider throwing their young child into the deep end of the pool and expect them to save themselves from drowning without providing proper lessons? The internet is a vast ocean of information and photos. A child cannot enter this new and exciting online world without the guidance of their parents, teachers or loved ones.
We spend vast amounts of time and money bringing children to soccer practice, swim lessons, dance lessons, schooling, but when it comes to regulating our children's online habits, many choose to step back and say, "They need the chance to explore and make mistakes. That's the only way they will learn." It takes courage to be a parent and to guide children on a matter as sensitive as their sexuality and how it relates to what they may encounter online. It is not an easy subject to broach, so many just choose to say, "I will let my child make that decision for themselves." This approach makes you appear as an open, trusting, and accepting parent. I see it as a lack of parenting. Why would you not put the same, or much more time into teaching your child how to navigate and regulate what they see, and what they post, online?
Mrs. Hall's first priority was in the protection of her children, as it should be. If every parent's first priority was the protection of their children, I believe that many of the pictures she referred to of scantily dressed girls would not end up online. I am a firm believer that the love and support of a mom and a dad helps children in making good choices. When one or both parents are not available for children to turn to, I hope there are other good adults in their life they can rely on. Don't pretend that just because you may not have kids, that your actions and words don't influence your niece, nephew, or the teenager down the street. Your example may be more influential than a teenager's own parents.
I don't believe Mrs. Hall was being judgmental (as she was called many times in the comments.) I believe she was using sound judgment in what was best for her boys. She did not call theses girls dirty names, she referred only to the inappropriateness of the girls attire. Many people completely missed the point of her post. Possibly it touched a nerve with them? Maybe they had some embarrassing photos on FB, twitter, instagram that they needed to justify to themselves? I don't believe there are many adults that would look back at their teenage years and wish they had been more promiscuous, or more vulgar. Since we have lived through those years, and have learned much, it is our responsibility , and should be our sincere desire, to teach the rising generation to avoid the mistakes we made, and also learn how to control the impulses that readily come with the internet at their fingertips.
