http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/09/social-media-internet-porn-teenage-girls

So, after ingesting this article, which really was nothing new to what I have been reading for quite some time, I think we all have the same concerns, desires and protection for our children......I do think these are issues that we have been in essence, forced to deal with, and navigate through. I can't imagine ANY of us thinking that any of this social media at such a young age is a healthy or an ideal situation...But, we are faced with it....So, we navigate, do the best we can, and look for the ups where we can.

Now, as I share my thoughts, it is important to know that these are MY thoughts, from MY heart and from MY viewpoint. My viewpoints are created from my life's journey and experiences and perspectives.

This article really is the straw that broke the camel's back on my ongoing angst with our society and culture as a whole. Not just the matters pertaining in this article.  Get ready! I'm about to vent!

There IS such a thing as too much too soon and too young. Unfortuantely, this thinking is becoming a lost art. How dare we go against what "is" now. It is commonplace for children to have Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.......Yes, parents can monitor and navigate and dictate and offer advice and guidance on what is a good decision or not, but how SAD that this is even something that has to be journeyed through. Ever heard the expression, "You can't unsee that?"  There is truth in that. If you think you can explain away something grossly graphic out of a childs head, you are sadly mistaken. Especially when it is repeated over and over and over.

There was a time when parents could feasibly sheild their children from unsolicited information. Not so much anymore. I am talking about a whole new era of an inability to protect our children from the "Unsavory" and "dangerous". It doesnt even have to be bad, maybe just something that your child just isn't mature enought to grasp. Now, they can go to Google and know it instantly. That's not always a good thing. Things now are out on a billboard to see, or on a radio to hear or something they "Followed" and saw...Slowly, our society has desensitized us to where we dont even notice! Its all become acceptable! My point is that DISCRETION no longer exists. SO many children have grown to have blurred lines on judgement and over sharing and this warped sense of being invincable. So many kids have this false sense that the internet is safe, they aren't held accountable. Everything is fair game. Of COURSE we have to talk to our kids about sex and porn and all of the other stuff that has been around forever, but is ANYONE just a little resentful and PISSED off that we have to talk about "Nuggets" and all of the other INSANITY that has now become a very commonplace reality?????? Anyone? Just a little? Can anyone admit that we live in society that tries to make our kids grow up at HYPER speeds? Does anyone wonder where it began, how it started, what it's doing to our young children?????? What it's doing to us as parents?? Is anyone concerned about the human condition and the effects of detachment of reality and the OBSESSION with phones and constant ARTIFICIAL SOCIALIZATION and warped sense of self worth????? The lack of self respect? The lack of self control? The importance of how many "likes" on your "Selfie" rather than really LIKING yourSELF and not basing it on fantasy????

People are bold behind a keyboard, whether its sexualizing each other, bullying each other, making violent threats and just downright abusing people. Long gone are the days that you could kiss Johnny behind a bush and people may have talked about it for a week, but no one could prove it and everyone moved on....Now, Johnny is getting a BJ behind the bush and his buddy Boris is recording it and now it's ALL over the internet FOREVER!!!!!! How does a young girl reconcile that? How does Boris feel like he can do that without any repercussions? Conscience?   Does anyone care? THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! Our shamed children are growing up to be extremely broken adults. But it has become acceptable. That's the way it is now a days. Deal with it. Long gone are the days when there was a fight after school and when it started to get out of hand, someone jumped in and everyone dispersed. Not anymore, now everyone stands in a crowd holding a phone recording it, not getting involved or trying to stop it, fighting to the brink of death and then puts it on YOUTUBE!!!!! We have become almost barbaric. Mad Max times. Why are we going backwards when we have so much forward thinking technology? Hmmm...We all wanna be seen. Be a star. Have our own sense of fame, but at any cost? What cost?  This REALLY is NOT normal behavior, but it has sadly become the norm. I see SO many parents EXCUSING their childrens BAD behavior!!! WHAT???  What has happened to the art of parenting and consequences to bad behavior??? Where are the parents? Who are the parents in this parent/Child dynamic? Your kids need a parent right now MORE than you need a friend! That line is becoming increasingly blurred. Dangerous.

I am not too worried about the kids of parents that are uber supervisional and all up in their childrens online business, but those are all exceptions. I bet there are WAY more disconnected parents out there and WAY too many children left to their own devices, slowly being almost mentally abused by garbage that is at their fingertips. Don't even get me started on the shows that are on now a days!!!! It's so outlandish and JACKED that it almost makes me nervously laugh!I am SO tired of seeing so many young people so sick and depressed and suicidal and just unkind to themselves and others. For that matter so many adults too. Every day I see more adults stressed out, frantic, unable to sustain and maintain this superhuman schedule and "masks" that they put upon themselves, thus turning into raging lunatics that scream at their kids and spouses and friends and strangers in the grocery store on and the roads. Masses numbing themselves with whatever is around to just help them cope with the life that is just not possible to successfully live. It's quite sad. Do you ever turn to your friend and say, "Give yourself a break"!!!!???? Just ball your fruit and throw it in a bowl. Dont worry about chisleing it into the next Michaleangelo today.....NO ONE cares or expects that from you! We just want to eat! !!!! When you don't have 15 places to go, a book report to help write, a diorama to help construct, a conference call to make, dinner to prepare, laundry to do, a house to clean, a dog to walk, a game to coach, a cheer competition to prepare for, a prepubescent teeanger to manage, and a husband staring at you you for some attention, then by ALL means go for it! But stop putting yourself into a straightjacket voluntarily! Is anyone freaking burned out?????? I am... by osmosis!!!

And while we are on the topic of technology...Can we please NOT text and drive? ESPECIALLY in front of your kids??? Would you want them to when they start driving?? I mean how many more unncessesary deaths and horrific accidents have to happen because of something so completely idiotic! IT's NOT THAT important! REALLY, it's not! Get some perspective! If it IS that important, pull over and handle it, but stop texting next to me as you swerve like a drunk driver...SMH

Listen, we could talk about this for days and debate it up and down. Pros, cons, facts, fallacies, opinions,perspectives, etc... The fact is, I'm not a fan of the way our society rolls now a days. I think the shift overall is dangerous and goes against our human function. Yeah, I like being able to get a hold of my husband quickly and being able to share and see my friends and their cute kids and fun lives on FB. Reading interesting, funny and informative articles and being made aware of causes. LOVE seeing beautiful and creative images on Instagram. Enjoy reading clever, thoughtful,smart and funny Tweets, but all the other stuff.....NOPE.....

Yeah, I know I'm different. I go against the grain. Just because I can, I don't, and I know that is foreign to most. I probably overthink and wish too grandly that I could make a change. I do live in a fantasyland in my head because I am not a fan of the masses. It may sound dramatic, but my heart is sad to see where alot of this generation is going. The condition of the heart is sick and I dont see it turning around unless there is a huge change somehow. I hope for that.

Until then, I focus on all of the AMAZING young people that ARE navigating through all these murky waters successfully. Making changes, desires to improve the world, having compassion for the less fortunate, fighting for those that dont have a voice and using social media as a positive and helpful tool! Helping build people up and striving for something better! Fighting for a cause and what they believe in! I pray for more of those humans. We can all nurture and forward that goal if we choose to. I think we have a responsibility to. It's important to lend a helping hand to those that need it. Stop and give your time to listen to someone that needs your attention, be an encourager, smile and say hello to those that pass you by. It may be the only smile or acknowledgement they get the entire day! Be a PeaceMAKER and not a PeaceKEEPER (There is a difference) Be kind to yourself! Be those things that your children can model after. Let them see those things in action. SHOW them HOW to care for others and respect others. Respect yourself so they know how to respect themselves!!!! Those things are important. They are vital to the cycle of our humanity. Those are the attributes that will give your kids a good fighting chance to survive and fluorish through that darkness that is out there that they will eventually and unfortunately be exposed to. Do the right thing when you think no one is watching, because I promise you, your kids are watching. Display character and integrity.  Love and communication is the key. PLUG in to people MORE!!!!

As always, I have probably said too much, probably gone too far and said things that you think are ridiculous, but that's ok because it's said with loving intention and a caring heart. Not to harm, but just to share. I truly believe I live on another planet sometimes. Please tell me there are others here too.

*ND