Unless you were a child celebrity, your kid probably has far less privacy than you did. From first time your child plays a game on a public server, to their first email account, first phone, first social media account, to taking over managing their own medical and academic records at 18, growing up is now full of digital milestones that parents are often surprised by and ill-equipped to mentor their children through. I call this the digital coming of age. The recent documentary, The Social Dilemma, stoked parents’ worries about this digital coming of age.
Parents ask me questions about privacy settings, monitoring apps, and tracking their kids. Parents want the lowdown on the impact of their teenager’s digital profile on their college admissions prospects. They worry their kid’s friends will take a picture or video of them doing something stupid and share it widely, shaming their child and foreclosing future opportunities. I am writing a new book, GROWING UP IN PUBLIC, to help parents navigate this terrain. I am deep into my research and writing and would love to hear about your experiences.
Want to Help?
If you have kids between 5 and 24 and want to share stories that might be used (anonymously and with identifying details changed) please take my survey or reach out directly.
Growing up in Public Parent Survey
Ready to read about this ASAP?
Here are a few articles I’ve written about growing up in public:
It’s not just about admissions: Teaching Kids to Live Well Even When No One is Watching Washington Post
Rules for Social Media Created by Kids New York Times
Your Kid Wants to Start a YouTube Channel: Some Advice
Washington Post
