Chicken soup: Some dim sum for dumb souls
Technology is alluring and we are weak to its strengths. We share photos. We share stories. We talk about things. We do things that we SHOULD not be doing despite our jobs, families, relationships and schools.
Rewriting a funny statement from the late comedian Richard Pryor, let’s say technology accentuates our personalities—great if you’re a wonderful person; terrible if you’re not so great. How does this point affect your child?
Little Johnny and Little Jane
Despite your child’s wisdom when it comes to using technology, such as knowing how to program YOUR cell phone and their slick dexterity to text with one hand, they are immature when sharing and doing things online. This point is especially true in school. As some adults have a false sense of anonymity, when it comes to work and their online lives, a child’s false sense of anonymity is far greater during and after school hours.
Talk to them and explain that if they are doing something bad (illegal) online during school hours or after, such as threatening other students (playing around or not) or spreading a false rumor like saying the school is on fire when it is not may lead to expulsion from a school or a school system. The social media version of pulling the fire alarm is far worse. It is a serious act, further heighten by our reliance on social media as the “official” communications. So double check information before overreacting, be proactive. Not everything on a Facebook page is true.
Parent Like Child
The same goes for parents. A few weeks ago, a Chicago car salesman was fired for wearing a Green Bay Packer’s tie the Monday after the Bear’s playoff defeat. The owner explained that the dealership had exclusive deals with the Chicago Bears. However, the owner forgot to share this information with his salesman. He did not know. Luckily, the salesman was able to find another job even after his old boss offered to rehire him. Exclusive deals and certain company policies are information that we all forget or do not take seriously.
Going to your Facebook page, as a Coca-Cola employee and writing a post on how Vitamin Water sucks is not the best thing to do. Or suppose a photo or a video of you using a rival’s product or service is posted to a page, blog, or some other service. The picture will not endear you to your bosses or your clients. As stupid as it all sounds, it can happen and the repercussions could be devastating.
Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk
When you get home tonight or perhaps on the weekend, please have a tech you need to know what not to do online chat with your child. Make it an ongoing exchange. For yourself, review your job’s moral, social media, privacy, and intellectual property policies. Read between the lines to know what you should NOT being doing whether it is being enforced or not, especially online.
Think smart before you click dumb.
