From a young age, we're taught to share things with one another: toys, feelings, and thoughts, most notably.
All are good things to share because it means we are opening ourselves up in hopes to understand and help others.
But at what point does it become oversharing?
A lot of kids are starting to get phones by the time they hit the double-digit mark. Now, they can't use their phones while sleeping, and they can't use it at school, so that leaves roughly eight hours a day for a kid to be able to be on their phone.
You can look at the nature/nurture debate until the cows come home, but if kids see their parents on their phone, they'll just assume that it's okay for them to do it at any time. Kids may not see what their parents are doing on their phones or iPads, but they just see them on their device.
Now, most kids are very easily manipulated into following the trends. Once a friend does it, they want to join so they keep up with everyone else. Whether it's Snapchat, Instagram, ask.fm, Twitter, or any other app, teens are sharing everything. I mean, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G and they are not holding back. From pictures of their Disney trips to explicit messages that would make a priest cross himself. Most of these are made public too. Meaning anyone can see or read them. A few apps require a mutual approval, but most are public.
When Facebook first came out with the ability to write a status, our parents would always jokingly, but secretly mean it, when they said not everyone needs to know when you went to the bathroom. I, thank goodness, have never made a bowel movement status or made mention to one. I do post a lot. I'll write silly statuses, song quotes, post funny memes, videos from last night's Fallon or Colbert, and the occasional vacation.
Yet, it's now the parents who are becoming guilty of sharing too much. Whether it's their child's first time using the toilet, their exploding diapers, or the vomit, parents are just sharing too much. They make their kids look like amateurs. Add in their conspiracy theories and their right- or left-wing agenda, and all bets are off.
In between being a kid to being married with children, we all date to find our future significant other. In college, we meet others at parties, the bar, or in class.
In the real world, you look at a happy hour or maybe an organization you're a part of.
More and more though, people are turning to online dating. Not because they are desperate, but because it's become the best way to meet new people. There are a couple steps in the online dating process:
1. Passing the eye test (are they attractive?)
2. Are they interesting? (Do they have actual stuff written in their profile?)
3. Pick-up line or a simple hello? (Too cheesy and they won't respond. Too simple and it doesn't look like you're truly interested or didn't read their profile.
4. Did the person actually respond to the initial message?
5. Enough of a connection online to meet? (want them to want to meet you).
6. A successful meet and the rest is history.
*7. If #6 fails, start back at #1.
* If necessary.
Online dating can be very successful, but it's a slippery slope. We don't actually see the person we're talking to face-to-face, so you're hoping your words make them stay.
What do we say?
What do we share?
When should I tell him/her this?
Do I tell them I like this music group or activity?
In the online dating world, if we share too much, we might overdo it and lose out on a relationship. If we don't share enough, we can be viewed as not interesting / interested. With one wrong word, we can be ghosted (just stop talking without letting the other person know). Do we add them on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, LinkedIn (doubt it), or any other site without scaring them off with our online habits. It's a fine line we walk to keep one interested.
It's an interesting time we live in, as there are many different outlets for videos, pictures, and just sharing of our thoughts and actions everyday. We're not reality TV stars who are constantly on camera for money. We're not movie stars who need to share our duck face with the world. We're not on LL Cool J's "Lip Sync Battle" and need to show people we can lip-sync to The Chainsmoker's "Closer".
These are all fun to do with our friends but do we need to share EVERYTHING we do?
Do we need to share embarrassing photos without our friends/family knowing and hope they don't find out about it?
Is it necessary to share your kids' first bath or time on the toilet? (side note: these kids will end up seeing it online when they get older)
Some things are better off not being broadcasted to the world. Some things can just between a few people.
Sharing is fine. Oversharing can just lead to unnecessary tension between two people.
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