How We’re All a Version of The ‘Facebook Mom’
They have something to prove, but then again don’t we all?
Social Media is a different realm for different generations. Each with its own set of rules, standards, and trends. For Gen Z, social media is a world of dark humor memes, TikToker drama, and Twitter fights. For Millenials, social media acts as an outlet to vent about ~adulting~, revel in 90s nostalgia, and DIY tips galore.
Both generations were introduced to social media platforms at a young age, and quickly established lingo and tacitly complied to the dos and don’ts.
Don’t: make your editing too obvious.
Do: post it or it didn’t happen.
Don’t: like your own posts.
The list goes on.
While it might have taken older generations a bit longer to adjust to the new depths of the internet, social media nonetheless became a new social sphere to be explored. And so the ‘Facebook Mom’ was born.
If you have Facebook, you will no doubt come across a mom excessively flooding her Facebook with vacation pictures, her kids’ first day of school, or a wine meme about the #MomLife. ‘Facebook Mom’ comes in all different breeds. We have the ‘over-sharer,’ the ‘complainer,’ the ‘bragger,’ and the ‘tone-deaf.’
Understandably, social media and the trends within it seem to belong to young people. After all, we know the platforms best, keep up to date on every trend, and give TikTokers and celebrities their views. So we are quick to poke fun when we come across a ‘Facebook Mom’ subtweeting about PTA drama or spamming our timelines with every millisecond of little Tommy’s soccer game. Go Rockets!
Why do they feel the need to share every moment of their lives?
Isn’t that what it’s all about?
You have to snap a pic of the sunset for your story or else what’s the point of looking?Post a beach pic or people won’t know you spent the day there.
Social media is a way to share moments with our friends, but I think we all know it’s more than that: It’s validation. It’s self-assurance. And we have to remind ourselves how easily we can become obsessed with the image we’re trying to portray.
The ‘Facebook Mom’ is just another symptom of social media; regardless of age, it’s all about identity and approval, and so we act accordingly. We create a profile and a feed and we have the power to control what people see and how they see us. When people ‘like’ or ‘heart’ the way we want them to perceive us, we’re gratified at the instant spark of assurance.
The smoke and mirrors take on a life of their own, and we all willingly participate. People don’t normally post about their divorce or losing their job or their insecurities. We filter out the many things that make us human and create an ideal world to put ourselves into.
But none of it’s real.
The ‘Facebook Mom’ has something to prove, but then again don’t we all?