It seems like only yesterday I was worried one of my children would blurt out something like “You’re old!” to some random granny at the grocery store who sweetly glanced their way, or maybe show the deli lady the booger they just picked. Now, half their peers have Snapchat and still don’t know much better.

Let’s dive in. Back in my day, some people would pass notes, and they would say, “Do you like me? Circle Yes or No.” Now, on social media, you can post this question (or a thousand other questions) and take a poll.

First off, it was pathetic when we passed the note, but at least we were only embarrassing ourselves to one other person. Sure, they would probably tell their friends, but you could always deny.

Asking all the people on your friends list, on any platform, how they feel about you, is not cool. If they are on your friends list, they should like you, and if they don’t like you or don’t know you, they shouldn’t have access to your account. Period!

Asking people to rate how much they like you, and all the kids are doing this, seems like a desperate cry for attention. Don’t be that person. Truly cool people don’t give a @#$*.

And for the love of all that is good and decent don’t reply after they mark how much they think you like them (I know it’s confusing) anything short of 100 percent. You would never in real life tell someone you like them only about 50 percent. Do you see how if you like Abbey 50 percent and Amy 90 percent, how that could be hurtful?

I really feel like the golden rule needs to be applied here with a side of “If you don’t have something 100 percent nice to say, don’t say it at all. It’s not nice.” Also, if you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, don’t say it online.

I mean, there’s a lot of people that have no filter in real life. I was just witness to an overshare in the phone shop the other day, where a woman gave the young sales guy some intimate details of her personal life while he stood there like a deer in headlights. Don’t overshare in public and realize that most of what you post on social media can be seen by the masses. I’m the deer in headlights to all the young whippersnappers out there that post things like, “I kinda like you, but now I’m not sure.” Gah! Just say nothing! Nothing would be better!

Why is this generation so needy? Are their relationships really this shallow? Is real life that boring and meaningless that one needs to seek the approval of the general public to get through another day?

These are all rhetorical, I have my opinions.

As a parent, I think we need to sit down and have these conversations though. We need to talk about content and how much we are putting out there. I mean, duck face selfie if you must, but realize that your self worth doesn’t teeter on the number of likes. This is not real life.

I know I am also a victim of the social media, but nothing makes me want to throw my phone passionately to the ground more than watching the younger generations social media feed.

If you are a parent that hasn’t caved yet and your kids don’t have social media, say “N0!” for as long as possible, knowing that the second you say “yes,” you have turned a 3-year-old with truth bombs loose in a grocery store.

If you’re already on the social media train, monitor, educate and regulate. Most of their offenses are minor, but they need to know that we are watching, and if they step out of bounds, we are a well connected, organized mafia of moms that will flag them. They also might need to be reminded that we have the power to pull their proverbial plug and end their imaginary social life at the drop of hata

[“source=ndtv”]