Quit Stalking me on Facebook Mom!

Every teenager needs a little privacy from their parents. That’s why we get things like Facebook. A place where we can talk to our friends, post certain pictures of our crazy weekends, and not have to worry about mommy and daddy checking up on us. We would go crazy if they knew everything we did all of the time. The thing is is that it’s hard for that to happen when our parents are on Facebook stalking our every move.

Facebook started out as a way for college kids to keep in touch with each other. Soon after this college craze took over, high schooler’s started using it as well. That is when I got my Facebook account. I thought it was cool that I knew what everyone was up to but it wasn’t like I was stalking them, their status updates and pictures just popped up on my news feed. After a few months of having a Facebook account, my parents figured out what it was and decided they needed one to. It was okay at first because they just got on there to find some old friends from high school and catch up. Now they want to add my friends and try to be the cool parents and talk to everyone. I don’t think so Mom. Just because my friends talk to you when they see you at Wal-Mart does not give you the right to be Facebook friends with them.It really pisses me off when I get a call from my mom or dad and they are like umm what were you doing at this house? Or why were you with this person when you were supposed to be with someone else? I am 18 years old and I can take care of myself thank you very much. I moved away to college for a reason and they just don’t seem to understand. I mean it’s okay if my mom calls me like once a day to check up on me and see what I’m doing, but when she calls me every time I update my status or add new pictures it makes me want to scream!

Now don’t get me wrong, there are parents on Facebook who actually keep to their own business and don’t bother their kids. But when they are like this most likely their kids are 30 years old and have kids of their own and haven’t lived with mom and dad for 15 years. My mom however still thinks I’m in 3rd grade and that I need her permission to add a new friend on Facebook. It KILLS me when she sees that I have added someone new and takes it upon herself to add them too. She has to check out everybody and then give me her opinion about that person. I don’t care if she likes the person or not. It’s my life and my Facebook and I can be friends with whoever I want.

The last and biggest thing that gets on my nerves about my mom having a Facebook account is when she writes on my wall and on my friends walls.

Mom I know that you love me and I’m your favorite daughter, you don’t have to tell me on my wall 13 times a day. Thanks. My friends also know that you love me so you don’t have to tell them either. Another thing, when I don’t write you back after you ask me how my day has been there is a reason for that. I don’t want to talk to you on Facebook. One simple phone call can take care of all the above mentioned.

I thought in the beginning it was cool that my mom had a Facebook account. When I thought she would mind her own business and her friends and not bother with me or mine. I try to tell her all the time to know her limits but she always seems to forget what they are. It’s’ kinda like telling a small child that they don’t need all of that candy before dinner but they eat it anyway. Mom,I don’t need you to tell me who I can and can’t be friends with. I don’t need to ask for your permission when I go out with my friends at night. I don’t have to explain myself every time you see a picture of me and you don’t know exactly where I was. I am in college now. I live on my own. I make my own rules. I’m responsible for my own actions. I know you are worried about me, but I can make it without you Facebook stalking me all of the time.

Victoria Watkins




Hilltoppers Class of '13 said...
This post has been removed by the author.
September 10, 2009 11:33 AM
Hilltoppers Class of '13 said...
Whats working: The idea for the blog is great, its a legitimate thing to discuss and is a good thing to bring up, overall its just good.Suggestions: Change the title to have something to do with parents.By: Aaron Gingerich
September 10, 2009 11:34 AM
Molly McCaffrey said...
The title is outstanding and very funny too--Aaron is right that you might want to mention your parents though. Maybe you could say "Quit Stalking me on Facebook, Mom!" I also think your voice is just right. I especially love this line: "I don’t think so mom. Just because my friends talk to you when they see you at Wal-Mart does not give you the right to be Facebook friends with them." (Though "Mom" should be capitalized when you are addressing her directly.) And I laughed out loud when I read about your mom adding friends that you've added. Also, when you say your mom has to know her limits, it's both funny and interesting. Maybe you should compare her to a young child doing something wrong and having to learn about their limits. If you do, be sure to come up with a specific example. The second and third paragraph need to be flipped because the third is really an extension of the introduction.Also, the thesis and reasons are not yet stated as clearly as they need to be. In fact, I wonder if your thesis should be that "Parents should not be friends with their children on Facebook" or even "Parents should not interact with their children on Facbook" because that would be a more clear assertion of your main point. Then your reasons could be more clearly stated too. (Because they're not yet.) Also, the paragraph about writing on the wall should be separated from the point about why you don't respond to her questions because those are two separate ideas. A minor point: I don't think you have "a Facebook." I think you should say that you have a "Facebook account."
September 11, 2009 8:23 PM