After noticing on facebook that too many people use their child's photo as their profile picture, I have had enough. Is this you? Or is this your child? I am confused. I know you think they are the cutest production of all time. But, you are still you, aren't you?
And now I see that people are posting their pregnancy tests on facebook. They are actually uploading the positive pregnancy test photo. What has social media come to?
I get all my juice on facebook. I don't need to have any conversations with my girlfriends on if they had their baby or what they named it. I can see it all online.
But a profile picture is supposed to be you. I know some people sometimes have their spouse in it. Or a nice landscape. That's ok with me. And I don't disagree or think it's wrong to have a funny photo or a huge cartoon of Bart Simpson. And as I am doing my research for this posting (yes, I actually make sure I am accurate on here), I totally missed doppelganger week on facebook. I have been told I look like a lot of people. But, let's be real here. I am going to go with Anne Frank on this one. There. Done!
So what happens to a young adult when they have a child? Besides the fact that their whole life can change. No more late nights at a bar, stopping for "one more" on your walk home and having a slice of pizza. Sleeping until 9 or so. Out the door with five minutes notice to meet a friend. Yes, everything changes. But I certainly wouldn't want to lose my sense of self along the way.
It appears when parents use their child's photo on facebook that they are losing a little bit of their own identity. Would you turn in a resume and put your child's name next to yours? And their e-mail address, too? Is this is a "two for one?" If I have you, I have to have your kid, too?
Or maybe, people who do this feel a stronger identity as a parent. And must identify with that now. It makes them feel meaningful. Which is sad. I am curious on your thoughts on this one.
Hey Janie! I'm one of those people of whom you speak. V. is my FB profile pic because (1) no one's really taking pics of me anymore and (b) she's a lot more photogenic than I am. Also, don't really want people from my past that may potentially be FB stalking me seeing my picture, I'd rather they see that I have a kid (and may infer that I'm married as well).
ReplyDeleteBut now that I think of it, I think the biggest reason for the kid pic is the fact that the vast majority of my friends and family on FB would rather see a new pic of V. than one of me (note: most of my non-family FB friends are married with kids themselves). And really, it's just Facebook--definitely more casual than a résumé.
I'm sure there are plenty of people (ok, women) that feel they are defined by their status as a mother and post their kids' pics to reflect that. I'm driven more crazy by women that have email addresses along the lines of JacobsMommy@hotmail.com or MomToTwins@gmail.com.