by Carol Nissenbaum

Created on: October 24, 2008   Last Updated: March 09, 2012

About Face(book)

If, like me, you are the parent of a teenager, you no doubt have heard of Facebook. Have you ever entered a room where your child is hunched in front of a computer, only to have them start clicking frantically to try and shut things down before you can get a peek? Well, it made me more than just a little curious; when I asked them what they were doing the answer was always the same: Facebook. Now, I am in the process of looking for a new job, and read an article in the local paper that said posting a resume is too passive; I should network myself on a site like Facebook. Sounded like good advice to me, plus now I could get a look at what my two teenagers spend half their lives doing. I was in!

I went to the site and logged in, providing minimal information. It seemed embarrassing to list my favorite songs, television shows, and activities, especially as most of the songs were recorded before most of the subscribers were born! Before long, I had my own account and page. I joined a couple of societies for editors to justify my reason for joining (networking for a new job), and then decided to snoop. I immediately clicked on my son's name to see what he's been up to. Wow, he sure has a lot of female friends, doesn't he? I know this is a good thing, but they seem to be all over him. His page of interests was eye-opening to me as well. Interesting how you can live with somebody for 18 years, in fact give birth to them, and yet there is more posted about him for all to see on his profile than I've gotten out of him in the past several years! I am offended on some level by this, yet incredibly amused by his droll writing. He must've gotten that from me! Not too thrilled about the many curses scattered throughout, but then again I can curse like a sailor myself.

Next I snuck a look at my 14-year-old daughter's page. Hmm, what's this? Picture after picture of her with her tongue sticking out! I am horrified. Somehow an 18-year-old boy putting it all out there isn't as terrifying as a pretty young girl, who doesn't realize how attractive she may be to some nutjob out there. They have their full names listed, their school, their interests and activities - seems to me they're just asking to be stalked by perverts. Heck, perverts like 18-year-old boys, too.

My daughter was absolutely horrified when I sent her a "be my friend" request. "What are you doing" she shrieked. "You can't be on Facebook!" I calmly explained that I joined for the work connections,

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