Tell your DS/DD to stay away from social media!

[luqui03]

Now that the new class of 2027 is about to start, I see posts that my son shows me about the new cadets/midshipmen telling the entire world their first name, last name, city, state, and all about their lives. As a former police officer I cannot emphasize more about the dangers of doing this and posting for the world to see. There are thousands of bad people doing extremely bad stuff and this may and will affect your children. Just a reminder of the world that we are living in. Good luck to all.

 

[Capt MJ]

Thank you for the timely reminder for both appointees AND family members who love to share every detail.

Here’s the USNA guidance for incoming midshipmen:

https://www.usna.edu/PermitToReport/_files/ptrs/7._Social_Media_Profile_Etiquette.docx.pdf

None of our USNA sponsor family who went on to intelligence or Interesting Careers at the “ABC” agencies are on social media. At all. No accounts. Minimizing their digital footprint.

I hate to think what is being collected on future officers across all these social accounts.

 

[justdoit19]

Beyond personal social media, is ‘find my friends’ and ‘find my iPhone’. I’m SHOCKED at how detailed these geotagged location based applications are.

While it’s true that these are user instigated programs (ie: I only share with friends), it’s unbelievable how detailed they are.

 

[HopefulSAMom]

Our DS made the personal decision years ago to remain a "ghost". He knew when he was in middle school that the academy was the path that he was going to go for, and with that made the decision for no social media. He has stayed true to that and has zero social media accounts.

 

[luqui03]

Beyond personal social media, is ‘find my friends’ and ‘find my iPhone’. I’m SHOCKED at how detailed these geotagged location based applications are.

While it’s true that these are user instigated programs (ie: I only share with friends), it’s unbelievable how detailed they are.

And now the infamous air tags, the very bad things that people are doing with them is unbelievable. From tracking your ex, to stalking a neighbor and much more. Yes, if you have an Iphone you may see it, but if you have an Android you are screwed. Also this new monster called AI is collecting Gigabytes of info per second, all being sold on the Dark Web. Hell, I found my property title there. Scary stuff

 

[Usnavy2019]

This is smart for both. When I was a mid, it seemed we were always getting briefs on social media usage and a fair amount of the brief was a highlight reel of screenshots of MIDN accounts/posts going against the policy. Also, social media was a common smoking gun for conduct/honor offenses.

Family member posts are usually in the flavor of OPSEC violations. Family members are proud of their relative in the military and that is not a bad thing. However, posting the USS Never Home will be docking in foreign port X in Y hours/days doesn't bode well for security.

Getting rid of my social media is one of the best decisions I have made. It makes a lot of the stuff you are warned about irrelevant.

 

[SnootyHen]

My candidate son won't even accept my Life360 request. In the car I paid for with the children I gave birth to.

 

[Bigrod]

My candidate son won't even accept my Life360 request. In the car I paid for with the children I gave birth to.

My son didn’t want life360 when he went off to academy or again when I got him a car his junior year. I told him no problem go buy and pay from your own phone and then again go buy your own car if you want one. He has Life360 still…..

 

[Coffee22]

The teens keeping geolocation on in the newer social media apps for the public or friends and friends of friends is scary and they have no idea how vulnerable they are and of the dangers they put themselves and/or family members in. I wonder if parents are even aware of how accurate it is. Reminds me of the old saying, “…good times create weak men.”

 

[unkown1961]

How hard is it for kids to change the settings to private?

 

[luqui03]

How hard is it for kids to change the settings to private?

Apparently they need a PhD.

 

[Day-Tripper]

Now that the new class of 2027 is about to start, I see posts that my son shows me about the new cadets/midshipmen telling the entire world their first name, last name, city, state, and all about their lives. As a former police officer I cannot emphasize more about the dangers of doing this and posting for the world to see. There are thousands of bad people doing extremely bad stuff and this may and will affect your children. Just a reminder of the world that we are living in. Good luck to all.

Every now & then a new poster on this web site (typically 19-20 years old) uses their entire name on a new post. Might as well give their address & SSN while they're at it.

It's not limited to the young, either. My mother (81) gave out too much information on a site she "shares recipes with" before I found out & had to explain how dangerous this was. The elderly, with their much greater equity & credit, are more vulnerable than our younger security-ignorant population.

 

[Sciencnerd]

The physical threat may be scary about it, but as a current high schooler who would be considered "down in the trenches" on this kind of thing, I think the mental effect is much worse. Our social lives have been ruined, and I know of only a few people who are actually able/willing to hold a meaningful conversation for more than a minute. Our attention spans have been absolutely killed off, and we don't know what to do in an important situation where we can't just scroll past it or hit skip. Our dating lives are ruined, our friends are often fake, and overall we are more depressed, anxious and jealous than ever. I am so glad that I don't have social media accounts, especially not on TikTok. I'm able to see the world for how it is, and watch in horror all of the people around me be slaves to their phones. We have no values, no truth, and no way to figure it out. Everyone feels alone, even on platforms meant to make friends. If you want to ruin a generation, start by taking hold of their mind.

 

[MidCakePa]

Our social lives have been ruined, and I know of only a few people who are actually able/willing to hold a meaningful conversation for more than a minute. Our attention spans have been absolutely killed off, and we don't know what to do in an important situation where we can't just scroll past it or hit skip. Our dating lives are ruined, our friends are often fake, and overall we are more depressed, anxious and jealous than ever.

This may seem like hyperbole. But I see it everyday, while teaching at our flagship state university. When I enter the room 10 minutes before class starts, every student is staring at their phone. Hardly anyone is talking with their neighbor. I have a “no electronics” policy once class starts, backed by copious and convincing research about how electronics usage is very detrimental to learning — not just for the user but for their neighbors as well. And yet many students just can’t help themselves — just can’t help taking a peek every five minutes. They simply lack self control. They have trouble completing simple reading assignments, and they struggle to retain the main points even if they do complete the reading.

It’s all very sad to see. And the worst thing is, they seem oblivious to it all, unconcerned about how it’s affecting their relationships, education and future prospects.

 

[Banshee Mom]

Now that the new class of 2027 is about to start, I see posts that my son shows me about the new cadets/midshipmen telling the entire world their first name, last name, city, state, and all about their lives. As a former police officer I cannot emphasize more about the dangers of doing this and posting for the world to see. There are thousands of bad people doing extremely bad stuff and this may and will affect your children. Just a reminder of the world that we are living in. Good luck to all.

No one seems to know who created these social media pages either. It’s not affiliated or authorized by the service academy. I hate to even bring this up , but it has been established that the perpetrator in the quadruple homicide at University of Idaho followed two of the victims on social media and had tried to contact one of them through Instagram . I have drilled this into my kids heads , especially my daughters , keep your social media private and don’t add people you don’t know .

 

[A1Janitor]

This may seem like hyperbole. But I see it everyday, while teaching at our flagship state university. When I enter the room 10 minutes before class starts, every student is staring at their phone. Hardly anyone is talking with their neighbor. I have a “no electronics” policy once class starts, backed by copious and convincing research about how electronics usage is very detrimental to learning — not just for the user but for their neighbors as well. And yet many students just can’t help themselves — just can’t help taking a peek every five minutes. They simply lack self control. They have trouble completing simple reading assignments, and they struggle to retain the main points even if they do complete the reading.

It’s all very sad to see. And the worst thing is, they seem oblivious to it all, unconcerned about how it’s affecting their relationships, education and future prospects.

I used to call my son when he was in math class - teacher confiscated his phone a couple of times when I did.

 

[luqui03]

And the same goes to parents, I just read a post written by an upset parent that did not remain anonymous, and posts may affect our kids as well.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

And the same goes to parents, I just read a post written by an upset parent that did not remain anonymous, and posts may affect our kids as well.

Yes, I’ve seen this quite a bit.
Parents and Cadets/Midshipmen can get away with things that would end the career of a JO. Parents posting things about senior leadership may get a pass at a SA, but for a JO it can quickly lead to tap dancing lessons and unwanted attention.

 

[luqui03]

Yes, I’ve seen this quite a bit.
Parents and Cadets/Midshipmen can get away with things that would end the career of a JO. Parents posting things about senior leadership may get a pass at a SA, but for a JO it can quickly lead to tap dancing lessons and unwanted attention.

Tap dancing lessons!!!best comment of the week

 

[Gearhead5]

Great topic. Seven years ago my DS informed me he wanted to be a military pilot. Now a junior in high school it has been a balancing act not being a helicopter parent and still avoiding the bad things in our world. One thing I have always stressed is Stay Away From Social Media! After volunteering at his school for the last two years it is sad to see the lack of interpersonal communication skills, fake friends on social media, depression and anxiety these students are experiencing.

Sciencnerd hit the nail on the head. Good for you for figuring it out. Two-three formative years totally altered for these students. I opened a Facebook and Twitter account on the advice of my DS’s baseball coach for the purpose of keeping track on updates for team events but never posted or communicated with anyone. He stopped playing 2 years ago and I haven’t been back on those sites since. Our household has no social media and I believe we are all better off for it.

I will say it is difficult in today’s world. I had an employer that had a strict No Social Media policy however if you had a technical problem or issue management said to reach out to your peers on, wait for it, Social Media!