SHOCK YOUR KIDS WITH THIS LETTER

Dear Son/Daughter,

I know you’ve felt exposed, embarrassed, and just downright creeped out that I sent you that invite to be my friend on Facebook. I know it’s hard for you as you’ve always thought the internet was your entire playground and not for us adults. Just as you’ve grown taller the last few years, things are and will always change. Facebook, isn’t just for college students, they’re allowing the whole world in. It’s now for office workers, presidential candidates, neighborhood watch, retirees and all those ‘other people’ on the internet.

We’re not that different, ya know, I’m adding friends to my business network to grow my professional reach (which will help you get those new sneakers), and I know that your generation uses facebook to show who you’re interested in or documenting who you’ve ‘hooked up with’ in your profile. I don’t hold it against you, in our time we had “notches on the bedpost” –I’ll tell you in a few years. Frankly, when I sent you that invite to be my ‘friend’ on Facebook, it was just a courtesy, I really didn’t want you to connect to me. Quite honestly I don’t want you to know about all that professional stuff I do during the day, because if you found out how much work I’m doing you may never want to grow up, and then you’ll never leave the house, and I prefer my car in the garage rather than yours.

Someday, when you grow up and get a professional network of your own you can feel free to add me as a ‘friend’, I’ve enclosed my Facebook profile URL below, but don’t be surprised if I don’t add you back –I just may be too cool.

Sincerely, Mom or Dad
Facebook Profile: (insert hyperlink to Facebook Profile here)

[Source: Web Strategy by Jeremiah, by Jeremiah Owyang]

A place for teens and parents to learn how to use the Internet safely. No preaching, just good advice.

• Don't see what you need? Just ask! Contact us for more information.