Technology Revolutionizing Life
Technology has made it easy and effortless to keep up with those we are close to. Heck when the pandemic began virtual was the way to go for everything…birthday parties, family reunions, school and work.
My son lives in this tech, virtual bubble. I have seen him gaming on his PC while listening to instructions on his phone in addition to watching gamers on his television. Its way too much for me!
Tech and social media have all but taken over. But for all its advances and advantages, it’s not all good. Bad apples can find a way to spoil a good thing. Like the internet predators lurking that prey on kids, girls and boys, through every medium. My sister texted me last week after she had been watching some prime time expose on gaming predators who bait young gamers online.
I knew where she was headed. I told my non-parent sister that I was ahead of her on this one and kept close eyes on her nephew’s activity and information he puts out there. We had the big “tech talk” before he got his personal PC two years ago and again when he got an iphone in April. Actually we have talks weekly and there are most definitely restrictions on his devices – some he can reset but then I just redo.
I say that to say that people put way too much of their personal information in their post on the worldwide web for it not to be recalled even when you think it’s removed. Don’t post when and how long you’re headed on vacation before you venture out. Don’t post real time pictures either. That’s a burglars dream…you just gave them all the goods. Wait until you’re back to spill the tea.
Many years ago I attended a media session on finding any information searched for, personal and public. It was very eye opening, you really can find anything you’re searching for with the right tools. The course was like TMZ before it was a real thing. That course is largely why I keep a low social media footprint…that and a minor stalking incident.
On occasion, I will troll social media pages for details (Jenny does it everyday) and I am continually amazed by what I see and read. I had an old colleague recently track me down through the use of my sister’s social media. When he caught up with me the first question was why was it so hard to find me on social media to which I explained was by design. He said “that figures” as he had always known me to have some isolationist tendencies in the past, particularly when I don’t want to be bothered which lately is more often than not.
My daughter is quite cautious with her posts on her social media pages. She’s creeping further into her teen years and hope that remains for the foreseeable future. She rarely posts full frontal pictures. She usually posts side silhouettes of her fashion choices for the day or a new hairstyle or new nail polish selection. That I am o.k. with versus my son who talks to his online gamer friends in live time—definitely without his webcam.
I would suggest just be mindful of what you post where as well as what any of your youth are posting too!