My Opinion: Sharing your Children on Social Media

Food for thought as you are sharing your children with the world on social media. Because you're not just sharing their pictures, you're sharing their lives with us. Without their consent. Perhaps strangers are saving their pictures and tracking them, and you'll never have any way of knowing how far it goes or how much danger they could be in. Perhaps they will grow up to feel violated by the way you shared their most innocent moments with hundreds of people you maybe only met once or twice, or worked with at a job 5 years ago, or anyone who does a Google search of your child's name. Perhaps they will resent the way you created an identity for them, without allowing them to create their own. Perhaps you can rationalize it by saying this is the "easiest" way to share important moments with close friends and family. Perhaps this is just lazy and dangerous. Just today, a girl I used to work with years ago has announced her pregnancy on Facebook, and tagged her unborn child in the post. As in, she's created a Facebook page for the fetus, with a profile picture of her sonogram. Perhaps this has gone too far? Perhaps lots of people will disagree with me. Or someone will say "Live and let live!" or "Don't look if it bothers you!" Or some parents will get defiant, and claim because I'm not a parent I don't understand and am not entitled to an opinion. Perhaps. But I see this as a dangerous road to go down, and no one truly knows the repercussions.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Please note, as you see the headlines that scream "Hoffman found dead with a needle hanging out of his arm," perhaps a far more compassionate, empathetic, and respectful headline for the passing of a great artist, partner, father, actor, director, and creative collaborator, would read: "Hoffman lost his battle to the disease of addiction."  I remember years ago, before getting sober, reading in a magazine that Philip Seymour Hoffman was in recovery from this disease. I remember the profound affect it had on me, the identification that one of my heroes was just like me. That he had prevailed through the darkness and created a bright and successful career as an actor gave me hope. Thank you for that moment in time when you inspired me in your recovery, Mr. Hoffman, and for every time you've inspired me with your work. You will always be one of my heroes. Below is an incredible article on Philip Seymour Hoffman, with insight into his passions, his process, his depth, and his vulnerability.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/magazine/21hoffman-t.html?_r=0