A prominent author from Texas, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, recently made headlines with the unique social media punishment doled out to her 12 year old daughter.
Her daughter had unwittingly posted a picture of herself holding a bottle of unopened vodka onto Instagram, with the caption, “I sure wish I could drink this.”
When Billingsley discovered the post, she banned her daughter from using the site, but not before making her upload a final picture.
A picture of herself holding up a piece of paper with the words, “Since I want to post photos of me holding liquor, I am obviously not ready for social media and will be taking a hiatus until I learn what I should (and) should not post. Bye-bye.”
Billingsley then posted up the same picture, with only the lower half of her daughter’s face visible, to her own Facebook page.
Since then, the photo has had over 11 000 Facebook shares, and garnered lots of attention from the media as well as other parents.
Prior warnings given
Even though Billingsley’s daughter begged for a spanking instead of this unusual punishment, Billingsley said she had previously warned her daughter about posting inappropriate pictures online before.
She said she wanted her daughter to realise the impact that the photo could have on a future employer, or even an Internet predator who might think, “This is a little girl who likes to drink.”
Billingsley also mentioned that while her daughter was “devastated” for a day after having to post the picture, she had brushed it off and accepted it by day two.
Wave of social media parenting
Although numerous critics have warned parents against using social media to “humiliate” their children as a form of punishment, this seems to have no effect on parents determined to teach their tech-savvy teenagers a lesson.
In fact, Billingsley gave the very same reasoning that Denise Abbott gave reporters, “I knew my child could handle it.”
Well, it’s true that no one knows your child better than you do, but it’s always important to consider all factors of a punishment before doling one out.
If done impulsively, or without good reason, your punishment could end up hurting or alienating your child even more.
Would you ever discipline your child on social media? Under what circumstances would you do so? Share your opinions with us below; we’d love to hear your views!
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