Dear Melissa,
My friend’s daughter sent me a friend request on Facebook and I didn’t accept it. She asked me why and it caused a fight with us. I am not really comfortable with the idea of having kids as “friends” but I don’t know how to say that to her. Help!
Unfriended
Dear Unfriended,
I am in your corner on this argument. I don’t think social media is a place for children and adult relationship to happen. Your social media account is where you are able to freely discuss your thoughts and feelings. People share memes they find funny and use adult language to convey their emotions. Often, these are inappropriate for children. How many times have parents used social media to complain about their child’s Elf on a Shelf or forgotten Tooth Fairy visit? Being friend’s with children online forces you to use censorship and discretion that you would not normally need to have. I think you need to tell your friend that you are not comfortable with the idea. It has nothing personally to do with her daughter, it’s just the best choice for you. I am hoping she is mature enough to understand your logic. If not, then become her friend and share embarrassing stories and pictures of her, that will get you unfriended faster than you can imagine.
Melissa