5 Social Media Tips for Parents

Social media is a fascinating part of today's internet. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are the most well known, but every day someone is trying to create the next hot thing. As friends from around the globe connect with one another to share their online experience, the parents of those friends will always be trying to connect with their own spawn through the medium we know as social. Whether it's to keep track of your bird out of the nest, stay up to date with their personal life or to upgrade to Nagging 2.0, here are some pointers for you parents out there to use social media in a more harmonious way and maybe actually get your friend request accepted by Son or Daughter.

1. Know how it works. With the really bleeding edge stuff, even us kids need to get oriented. Do the same! Once you've signed up, or beforehand, look for a FAQ (frequently asked questions), user guide or even peruse YouTube for a video that explains what the software or website is and how it works. The simplest way is to see how everyone else is using it first. That way, you look like a tech-savvy Ma or Pa who won't be bugging their kid every ten minutes asking how the simplest of functions work.
   
   
2. Stay on topic. There's a common acronym that started on message boards: OT. It's short for Off Topic, and is something said to warn a user who has posted something that strays from the subject matter of the rest of the thread of conversation. This is quite annoying, as it essentially hijacks and thus disrupts everybody's enjoyment of the conversation. So, apply this to Facebook for an example: your daughter is in Bali and has posted a picture of her riding an elephant. Below, a few of her friends are asking about the cute elephant-keeper. This is not the time to comment, "Have you called your Auntie Jude? She'd appreciate it."
   
   
3. Start a mutual dialogue. Most modern social media is all about back and forth conversation. If you want to start a conversation with your child, then start one afresh in the way the social medium always intended. On Facebook, it's a post on their wall. On Twitter it's a Direct Message or by including their username with an @ at the start. On their blog, it's leaving a comment on their post (keep it relevant!). Or share a photo or video or link with them using the little 'share' buttons built into the original page you think your kid will like.
   
   
4. Everything can be seen by everyone (almost). Social media is about sharing your experience of the internet publicly, for all to see. A majority of parents don't understand that everything they post on their child's profile is visible to every single friend or often the entire online world. If you absolutley must talk to your child about something personal or awkward through social media (I strongly advise against it), then identify the private channels available. Facebook, MySpace and general profile based sites have Inbox and Messaging features, while Twitter provides Direct Messaging - but really, use an email or better yet, a phone. Otherwise, at best, it's the equivalent of demanding your little boy give you a kiss goodbye in front of his mates at school. Not cool Mum. Not cool.
   
   
5. Be sociable. I'll reiterate once more the point of social media: sharing the internet with friends. Most of us are on to chat, post links and have pleasant, easy-going fun. If you want to enter that world, remember, they are under no obligation to friend you and you're talking to your kid on their turf, so use it for the right reasons. The truth is, they need to accept your friend request so you need to make sure there's a reason for them to do so. A lot of social media users use it as a place to escape the gripes of life, so don't ruin it for them, or you may find lil Timmy or sweet Sarah blocking yo ass. It was originally called Friendster, not Nagster.