The parents of today's Christian families need to learn, and sometimes unlearn, lessons on how best to interact with their young children in today's digital age when social media, like Facebook, have become the most popular communication tools, a writer for Charisma News said.
Writer BJ Foster said whether some parents like to admit it or not, they sometimes do things that inevitably cause embarrassment to their kids, adding that this embarrassment has been taken to a whole new level in their use of social media.
"Adults, particularly parents, have been embarrassing teenage kids for ages. I am thankful every day that I grew in an era before the Internet. It has given parents an easier opportunity to mortify their kids," Foster said.
The writer talked to a group of teenagers and asked how their parents embarrass them through Facebook, and he got 10 answers. The first culprit is always checking in on Facebook. "If this was ever cool at all, it sure isn't anymore. There are a few people who need to know our exact location. The rest of the world doesn't," he said.
The second cause of embarrassment is when adults post things encouraging people to "share this if you believe." Foster explained that "it's one thing to share something, but another to pressure others to do the same. Telling people to share if they agree with some generic or cheesy saying is nothing more than an annoying chain letter."
"Throwback Thursday" might have started as a quaint trip down memory lane, but when people do this week after week, it becomes too much, he said.
Liking one's own comment, post, or status is also tacky, the teenagers told the author, because it appears as if parents are trying too hard to impress people and are needy for affirmation.
It's also cringe-worthy when parents mistake shorthand usage, such as "LOL," which stands for laugh out loud. However, there are some people who assume that it means "lots of love."
Teens also hate it when people share quiz results, Foster said.
But nothing can ever top a bad selfie. "Posting a selfie that is out of focus or at a weird angle says, 'I'm trying to do what the kids are doing, but I'm not good at it.' Either do it right or don't do it at all," he said.
Overposting and oversharing is another Facebook boo-boo, and even limiting oneself to one post a day at most might appear as too much for other people, Foster said.
Then there are the overbearing political views, which are also frowned upon by today's youth, the writer said. Political convictions may be good, but they can demonise opposing parties and viewpoints, Foster said.
"You represent the entire family when you post something. People can have emotional responses, not just towards you but also your children (for right or wrong)," he explained.
Lastly, teens prefer that their parents stay away from Instagram. Their parents can take over Facebook, but they want Instagram to be their own thing, Foster said.
