Yesterday I helped Hubby with his weekly after-school class.
I taught an after-school class last year, and Hubby taught one last semester, so I've gotten to know some of the students in Chris' classes and at his school.
That being said, yesterday a little girl (6th grader) that I've never met looked up at me and said, "Are you Mrs. Miller?" When I said yes, she grinned and said, "I follow you on Instagram."
For those of you who aren't familiar with Instagram, it is a website and application people have on their phone. People take pictures on their phone, enhance them with Instagram and share them on this photo site, which is similar to Twitter, but only pictures.
I post pictures on Instagram every so often, and it is a phone application that I enjoy.
When this little sixth grade girl, whom I had never met told me that she followed me on Instagram, it was a very needed reality check for me about who is out there seeing the things and pictures I post. I have never posted any photographs that were inappropriate in any way, but I need to be aware that my peers are not the only ones on these social media sites.
It had never even entered my mind that one of Chris' students might be following me on anything -- facebook, my blog, pinterest, or instagram... and yet, apparently, at least one is.
We do live in a glass world these days where anyone can learn pretty much anything about you. The thing is, I always saw that as a risky thing -- the wrong person, a bad person could gain information -- but the truth is, if there is the chance to be a respectable role model or positive influence on impressionable kiddos, maybe its not such a bad thing. This student could potentially learn that Chris and I are followers of Christ through pictures I post.
I never thought of Instagram being linked to minister, but maybe the Lord has a plan for Instagram?
I taught an after-school class last year, and Hubby taught one last semester, so I've gotten to know some of the students in Chris' classes and at his school.
That being said, yesterday a little girl (6th grader) that I've never met looked up at me and said, "Are you Mrs. Miller?" When I said yes, she grinned and said, "I follow you on Instagram."
For those of you who aren't familiar with Instagram, it is a website and application people have on their phone. People take pictures on their phone, enhance them with Instagram and share them on this photo site, which is similar to Twitter, but only pictures.
I post pictures on Instagram every so often, and it is a phone application that I enjoy.
When this little sixth grade girl, whom I had never met told me that she followed me on Instagram, it was a very needed reality check for me about who is out there seeing the things and pictures I post. I have never posted any photographs that were inappropriate in any way, but I need to be aware that my peers are not the only ones on these social media sites.
It had never even entered my mind that one of Chris' students might be following me on anything -- facebook, my blog, pinterest, or instagram... and yet, apparently, at least one is.
We do live in a glass world these days where anyone can learn pretty much anything about you. The thing is, I always saw that as a risky thing -- the wrong person, a bad person could gain information -- but the truth is, if there is the chance to be a respectable role model or positive influence on impressionable kiddos, maybe its not such a bad thing. This student could potentially learn that Chris and I are followers of Christ through pictures I post.
I never thought of Instagram being linked to minister, but maybe the Lord has a plan for Instagram?
Such a good lesson.
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