When my oldest was a baby, I quit all social media (yes, all of it!) and never looked back. Sure, sometimes I feel like everyone is hanging out without me, and, as an extrovert, that is hard for me, but it's also okay. It makes it much easier to forget my phone when I'm with my kids (I've also turned off every notification, sound, and vibration except for actual phone calls). I've obviously added in the Substack community, but I am able to choose what I give my attention to, there are no ads, and I only access it when I'm on my computer and the kids are in school. There's a lot of privilege here, I know. Just sharing so other parents know a life is possible without social media.
Thanks for this post. Since I retired, six years ago, I have been following many of the popular social media sites that offer parenting advice. As a pediatrician, and neonatologist, and mother of three grown children, I think that most of these sites probably do contribute to parental anxiety. They certainly offer differing explanations of the issues that concern parents. Some are excellent, well referenced, and written by professionals, and others are not. Called me old-fashioned, but I recommend highly valued books about child health and development. Social media creates a “comparison culture” than increases anxiety and should be limited for that reason alone.
I'm not sure if it's "advice," but the prevalence of GPS tracking features - and it positioned as "family safety" on apps and devices when it feels like such and anxiety feeder. The checking. The have to know where/when. The assumption the young person cannot have agency. I would love to know what your research says about it!
When my oldest was a baby, I quit all social media (yes, all of it!) and never looked back. Sure, sometimes I feel like everyone is hanging out without me, and, as an extrovert, that is hard for me, but it's also okay. It makes it much easier to forget my phone when I'm with my kids (I've also turned off every notification, sound, and vibration except for actual phone calls). I've obviously added in the Substack community, but I am able to choose what I give my attention to, there are no ads, and I only access it when I'm on my computer and the kids are in school. There's a lot of privilege here, I know. Just sharing so other parents know a life is possible without social media.
I love how you debunk those IG quotes. They are mostly so deeply unhelpful, just made to increase mom guilt
Thanks for this post. Since I retired, six years ago, I have been following many of the popular social media sites that offer parenting advice. As a pediatrician, and neonatologist, and mother of three grown children, I think that most of these sites probably do contribute to parental anxiety. They certainly offer differing explanations of the issues that concern parents. Some are excellent, well referenced, and written by professionals, and others are not. Called me old-fashioned, but I recommend highly valued books about child health and development. Social media creates a “comparison culture” than increases anxiety and should be limited for that reason alone.
Yes to this!!! ❤️
I'm not sure if it's "advice," but the prevalence of GPS tracking features - and it positioned as "family safety" on apps and devices when it feels like such and anxiety feeder. The checking. The have to know where/when. The assumption the young person cannot have agency. I would love to know what your research says about it!