As I was growing up, social networking was completely different than what it is today. In the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s to social network one had to actually leave their homes to chat with their friends. It did not require a special language (or lingo) either. Back then social networking came with a handshake, a kiss on the cheek, or a hug, not a poke or shout or whatever passes for that nowadays. I often speak about how many friends my Dad had in his lifetime. I am talking real face to face friends. People he knew and visited, shared a beer with, worked on their car, watched a sporting event, argued about politics, friends that he grieved with, or shared moments of joy with when a new child was born, my Dad was a real life social networker. When he passed away friends of his from all over came to mourn the loss of a great man. I recognized friends of his that I had not seen in more than 25 years. The funeral home was not large enough to contain all the guests and the activity spilled outside onto the grounds and into the parking lot. My Dad had made lifelong friends during his social networking and none of it was from sitting in front of a computer.
The reason for this post is not to tell you about my Dad; it is to tell you about the dangers of social networking. Not just from the predator types either. It is mentally healthy to socialize with other people; it is not mentally healthy to sit in front of an electronic device and hold multiple conversations all at the same time. Sure you may find out what Bill & Sue are up to from one of your other friends, but you would have eventually found out the news if you were really either one of Bill or Sue’s actual friends to begin with.
There are multiple dangers from modern day electronic social networking, some of them with long lasting effects. Cyber-bullying is not just for school kids, adults do it as well. Being bullied can cause long term mental disorders. Real life people have even committed suicide over this type of behavior. Both younger and older people have been subjected to electronic abuse. Sadly some of it by people they never even knew. Sure you can be bullied in person as well, but the effects of such events were less circulated in the past and were easier to control to a degree. Nowadays you can be bullied by someone who lives in another country, who is just piling on to something he read on another friend’s page. This is just an example of one of the dangers that can be found on the internet.
Cyber-predators are an even worse form of danger. They could be after your children, your money or even you. They lurk as a “friend” following everything that you post. They strike your home when you are away or you in the parking lot where you just happened to tell everyone where you were. I am writing a book on just this sort of character. I have an active fiction blog that I post to every day, based on this fictional characters exploits. Although, my blog and subsequent book are a work of fiction; there are real predators out there and you need to protect your friends, family, children and yourself from them.
While technology is not going away any time soon, we all need to use them in moderation and be mindful of what information we are putting out there. We could all benefit from my Dad’s play book and actually go visit a real life friend every now and then. I promise you it will be good for your heart and soul.
The reason for this post is not to tell you about my Dad; it is to tell you about the dangers of social networking. Not just from the predator types either. It is mentally healthy to socialize with other people; it is not mentally healthy to sit in front of an electronic device and hold multiple conversations all at the same time. Sure you may find out what Bill & Sue are up to from one of your other friends, but you would have eventually found out the news if you were really either one of Bill or Sue’s actual friends to begin with.
There are multiple dangers from modern day electronic social networking, some of them with long lasting effects. Cyber-bullying is not just for school kids, adults do it as well. Being bullied can cause long term mental disorders. Real life people have even committed suicide over this type of behavior. Both younger and older people have been subjected to electronic abuse. Sadly some of it by people they never even knew. Sure you can be bullied in person as well, but the effects of such events were less circulated in the past and were easier to control to a degree. Nowadays you can be bullied by someone who lives in another country, who is just piling on to something he read on another friend’s page. This is just an example of one of the dangers that can be found on the internet.
Cyber-predators are an even worse form of danger. They could be after your children, your money or even you. They lurk as a “friend” following everything that you post. They strike your home when you are away or you in the parking lot where you just happened to tell everyone where you were. I am writing a book on just this sort of character. I have an active fiction blog that I post to every day, based on this fictional characters exploits. Although, my blog and subsequent book are a work of fiction; there are real predators out there and you need to protect your friends, family, children and yourself from them.
While technology is not going away any time soon, we all need to use them in moderation and be mindful of what information we are putting out there. We could all benefit from my Dad’s play book and actually go visit a real life friend every now and then. I promise you it will be good for your heart and soul.