I was in the sixth grade when I created my first email account—at the same time my parents created their first account. By early high school I was IMing with friends about tennis tryouts and boy crushes. In college, a roommate introduced me to a new online service that was trickling down from ivy league campuses: Facebook.
Now I am the mother of young children whose imaginary play involves “going to the app store.”
I am only 29 years old, but the technological landscape today looks absolutely nothing like it did the day I was born.
In an article for Slate Magazine, Amy Webb discussed what she calls “the broader impact of creating a generation of kids born into original digital sin.”
Maybe this line stayed with me because “sin” is not a word I toss around lightly.
Or maybe it’s because—as a product of the information age—I’m optimistic enough to believe in the benefits of my digital footprint (and to be untroubled by ads at the gas pump that are tailored to my spending).
Or maybe her projection of my “sin” struck me because I have guilt on my hands. My children’s faces dot my facebook page and enliven my blog. At this stage in my life, it’s almost impossible to extract my story from theirs, and my online presence doesn’t hide it.
To finish reading, jump to the Deseret News in one quick click. Thank you!
Linked up with Grace at Home and On Your Heart.
What a great article and a good looking family.
Thanks, Julia! We come from good stock! 🙂
In the Deseret News! Woo hoo! I loved everything you said. The reality is we live in an internet/media world, and we have to embrace it and figure out how to use it rather than shelter our children from it!
Your posts come through to me still via email, and though I spend time reading, I don’t spend a lot of time commenting these days. You deserve some praise for all your wonderful writing – and now published in an online newspaper! Congrats 🙂 Love what you write – especially in your other post about solo parenting. Beautifully put. My best to you!
Hi Sarah! I am so glad you commented, because I didn’t realize you were posting so much again! I’m so happy about that, because I love your blog! (And sorry it has been so long since I visited!)
Thank you for the congratulations! I’ve been enjoying finding my stride. 🙂
New reader here 🙂 I found you through Colleen’s blog, Meet the Sullivan’s, and absolutely loved your article and the blog posts that I have read so far!
Hi Elizabeth! I just wanted to say that I’m so happy that you found me, and THANK YOU for introducing yourself! I love Colleen’s blog, and I’m excited to check out yours, too. Keep in touch!