Instafantastic
She happened to ask on the exact right day, so Alexis has an Instagram account. I had reserved her preferred user name months before without telling her, but then she went and acted all grown-up and responsible and stuff for weeks on end, so I figured I'd hand her something that could blow up in her face.
Spoiler alert: it didn't. In fact, giving Alexis an Instagram account has turned out to be the BEST THING EVER OMG.
The thing about Instagram is that the privacy settings are about as straight-forward as you can get. Plus, it's really very easy for me to control Alexis' universe. I can log in as her at any time since I have the password. She doesn't know the password and the account is linked to one of my email addresses, so there's really no way for shenanigans. I approve all of her followers and she knows she better not follow anyone without a discussion.
In other words, she fully expects me to control what she sees and who can see her. It's really very age appropriate and I like how it sets our expectations for later.
Even better than the rules I set going in are the things that Alexis has already figured out.
1. Miss Alexis, she of few years on this Earth, has informed me that posting photos to Instagram is not about getting likes. It's about sharing things you like.
It's possible I busted into a celebration dance the first time Alexis told me that.
2. Alexis wanted to follow Taylor Swift, which ... fine. As much as Taylor makes me want to stab myself in the face with a rusty nail, she is very much so "safe." What Alexis didn't want, however, was for Taylor Swift to be able to see what she posts.
Seriously.
Alexis doesn't want to let Taylor into her world.
It made for a great conversation about why Alexis' account is locked and why she can't approve her followers.
3. As for approving followers, Alexis has already figured out that there is no shame in saying no. If someone requests to follow her and it isn't someone she would run to if she was being chased by a bunch of hungry zombies, it's a no. Instantly. She has experienced zero heartburn over saying no, which is generally just a good lesson to learn.
4. It took Alexis exactly one day to ask to unfollow Selena Gomez because "all she posts is selfies." Apparently a selfie here and there is very cool, but a constant stream of them is annoying.
Wisdom. My kid has it.
5. There are all kinds of stupid popularity games that kids play using Instagram. They compete for likes, they post selfies and then say "Fave if you think I'm cute" and all sorts of nonsense. I'm completely aware of it, but I don't think Alexis was until one of her friends from cheer starting posting attention seeking nonsense.
Alexis asked to unfollow her. She said she doesn't want to see people "acting weird" like that.
6. HER COMMENTS ARE AMAZING. I mean, I enjoy seeing what she will post and reading her captions, but her comments on my posts crack me up. For example, I posted a photo of Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints because ZOMG THEY ARE AMAZING. I am not at all ashamed to admit that while I bought them for Alexis, I ended up eating most of the box. The resident tattletale had no problem posting in the comments on Instagram that I was indeed guilty of eating them all.
Why that makes me laugh endlessly, I don't know. It just does.
7. She doesn't know it, but I can use Instagram to figure out how much Alexis isn't sleeping. She seems to check it in the morning and last thing at night, so I can actually see when she is sitting wide awake at midnight liking things.
I seem very omnipresent as of late. It's AMAZING.
8. Best of all, Alexis has already learned that it's a very bad idea to read the comments. She's following the Penguins. Every photo ever posted by the Penguins has a zillion comments, most of which have nothing to do with the photo or are just plain awful. Alexis read through them a few times and found all sorts of "grown up words." Now she will occasionally see me checking Instagram and will advise me, "Mom, don't ever read the comments."
She's a good egg, that kid.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Reader Comments (5)
she is SUCH a great person. i love your girl so hard.
it is quite enjoyable to see what she posts. thanks for allowing her to have an instagram account!
Kids are so smart.
Wow, she's more responsible on Instagram than most adults I know. And ugh. It just hit me that I have kids now too and will have to deal with similar issues all too soon. I only hope my kids grow up to be even half as responsible and awesome as yours is. There's hope for the boy but I already don't trust the girl.
I like good eggs and she's a great one. You're doing good by her.
Oh man. I kind of want to be Instafriends with Alexis. Which sounds a little creepy now that I'm typing it. But it's only because I bet she posts the happiest, awesome-est stuff. Kind of like her mom.
Taylor Swift, though. I hate that I love some of her latest music. It's just so catchy!