As a writer, I find myself frequently immersed in social media, sharing snippets of my life and my children’s amusing moments through various platforms. However, as my kids grow older, they’ve started voicing their opinions about what I post online, particularly my 11-year-old son, Max.
One day, while chatting with my partner about a Facebook update, Max chimed in with his “Brenda” voice—an amusing impersonation he does that sounds like a mix of a valley girl and Pee-Wee Herman. He remarked, “Oh boy, Facebook! Let’s check it out, girls!” When I asked him what he thought of Facebook, he explained that it seems like a place where moms go to share stories about their kids and boast about their lives. I found his insight both amusing and accurate.
“Think about it,” he said. “We take a ton of pictures every day so you can post them. But does anyone actually care about our daily lives?” This got me thinking—do people really care? Perhaps it’s more about living vicariously through others rather than genuine interest.
I continued to ask him questions. “Do you enjoy my Facebook posts?” He replied, “Sometimes they’re okay, but honestly, I don’t find them as funny as you do. No offense!” Fair enough.
Then I broached the topic of TikTok, knowing he has strong feelings about it. He expressed disdain for what he calls “TikTok girls,” saying they waste time trying to look cool with silly dances. “Just be yourself!” he advised, which I found surprisingly insightful for someone on the cusp of middle school. He acknowledged there’s funny content on TikTok but lamented that many ruin it by trying too hard to impress. He cheekily added, “But how would I really know? You only let me see it on your phone since I’m too young, remember?”
He was right! I don’t allow him to have TikTok or any social media at his age. I believe he’s still too young to be immersed in such a complex online world. I want him to relish his childhood and enjoy games like Minecraft for a bit longer. Yet, he’s very much aware of social media, so I pressed on.
Next, I asked for his thoughts on Instagram, especially since my partner uses it for his job as an influencer. I was intrigued by his response. “Isn’t Instagram for businesses?” he asked. “It seems like everyone is just advertising something.” I explained a bit about advertising and how it’s pervasive in our lives, but by the look on his face, I could tell he was already zoning out.
When I asked him about social media in general, he noted, “You’ve been doing this my whole life. I can’t imagine a world without it. But I don’t really understand why you spend so much time on it. It’s like you’re addicted to Facebook, like you are to Diet Coke.” Ouch, but maybe he has a point!
I admitted that I do spend quite a bit of time on Facebook, where I connect with friends and share family updates. I find comfort in this virtual community, but it’s fascinating to think about how his generation will interact with social media as it continues to evolve.
So, what does Max hope for his future in social media? He sweetly expressed, “I want to stay connected with friends, family, and be a cool uncle someday.” I assured him that he would be, and I believe he’ll manage to keep those connections as he grows, even if the platforms change drastically.
Ultimately, it’s essential to remember that once something is shared online, it’s out there forever. So, I hope that when he sees a friend request from his old mom one day, he’ll be happy to accept it.
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Summary
The conversation revealed how my tween perceives social media, labeling Facebook as a platform for moms and TikTok as filled with people trying too hard to appear cool. His insights offered me a new perspective on social media engagement and its implications for future generations.