Social media bragging

[Anonymous]

As a swim parent, today I am blown away after SC champs at the level of intense, shameless bragging by some other swim parents about their kid's performance. I'm talking multiple pictures, video, time standards reports, MeetMobile screen shots, and in one case, even a specific mention of who their kid beat! Then all the comments and likes that further encourage this behavior - it's mind blowing. I have to admit, I am feeling very differently about a few people who have shocked me with their tacky, tasteless bragging and carrying on. I know, I know - just stay off social media, don't look if you don't like it, etc. But I have seen it now and I just really have to wonder about the psychology of these parents. Is is living vicariously or some deep insecurity? I have to wonder what it does to the kids. These are young children, who knows what the future holds for them athletically or otherwise. It's just so interesting that people feel the need to brag so outwardly. I would be so embarrassed. Anyway, just had to share my shock.

[Anonymous]

How'd your kid do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How'd your kid do?

Amazing, actually! Thanks for checking. I am so proud of her, but would never be so tacky about it.

[Anonymous]

Pictures and video to me just sounds like a proud parent. And maybe the target audience is more family that doesn't live nearby. Meetmobile screenshots though is pretty crazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How'd your kid do?

Amazing, actually! Thanks for checking. I am so proud of her, but would never be so tacky about it.

Why do you care so much about what other people do? It's weird.

You worry about you.

I don't even have a kid in swimming, btw. It's just really strange that this would provoke you to the point where you post high-mindedly about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How'd your kid do?

The obnoxious Facebook bragger has arrived.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How'd your kid do?

Amazing, actually! Thanks for checking. I am so proud of her, but would never be so tacky about it.

Why do you care so much about what other people do? It's weird.

You worry about you.

I don't even have a kid in swimming, btw. It's just really strange that this would provoke you to the point where you post high-mindedly about it.

It’s damaging to young kids to publicly put them on a pedestal to that extent, when they probably (statistically) will not be able to maintain that level of success. Look up champion child syndrome.

Plus, you’re embarrassing yourself.

[Anonymous]

I’m not on social media, but I think my kid would die if I publicly posted some of the things you just mentioned. But we did send some videos, screenshots, etc. to family. Maybe some people just use social media as their vehicle to communicate things with their family? Calling out other kids in a social media post is crazy though, these are still kids for FFS. It’s one thing for my kid to know who her strongest competition is and say she wants to go faster than Kid X, but parents calling that out is crazy.

[Anonymous]

So my kid was swimming this weekend and did well. I have not posted anything about it, but usually do end of season wrap ups and it will be mentioned. My husband was very proud and posted all kinds of things. I think it is in poor taste to mention other kids.

And my kid's success might not be another parents. I tell my swimmers that they will have good years and bad years with swimming (depending on growth, time standards, etc) and I am a strong believer in celebrating the success years because when things are bad my kid will need to draw upon them.

As for championship kid syndrome, I know it well. And to put it this way, one of my kids had a disaster of a meet and was crushed and all up in their feelings/negative/yelling. And I literally just said - quit. If you are that bad, just quit. The look of shock on their face and telling me that they don't do it to win, but that they love the water.

We do have friends that their child has never had failure and consistently makes improvements every meet. Do I think that is sustainable? I don't know, but I hope so because the kid is quite good.

Celebrate the victories, there is nothing wrong about it or obnoxious. This week I saw swim posts and basketball posts and I loved every single one.

[Anonymous]

The funny thing is that the parents of the very best swimmers say absolutely nothing on social media. They don’t need to. Their kid’s performance speaks for itself, and anyone who cares about how the kid did already knows.

It’s only the strivers/insecure ones who post all that stuff.

[Anonymous]

The only unacceptable act is to mention who lost. There should be no bullying or mention of who did not win. The rest is stupid, but that's what people do: there's another thread about posting boastful private school acceptance announcements, so... seems pervasive, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a swim parent, today I am blown away after SC champs at the level of intense, shameless bragging by some other swim parents about their kid's performance. I'm talking multiple pictures, video, time standards reports, MeetMobile screen shots, and in one case, even a specific mention of who their kid beat! Then all the comments and likes that further encourage this behavior - it's mind blowing. I have to admit, I am feeling very differently about a few people who have shocked me with their tacky, tasteless bragging and carrying on. I know, I know - just stay off social media, don't look if you don't like it, etc. But I have seen it now and I just really have to wonder about the psychology of these parents. Is is living vicariously or some deep insecurity? I have to wonder what it does to the kids. These are young children, who knows what the future holds for them athletically or otherwise. It's just so interesting that people feel the need to brag so outwardly. I would be so embarrassed. Anyway, just had to share my shock.

Did they share their updated IMX score?

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of selfish people in this world who don’t really care what they are doing to their kids as long as they can continue to get that validation they desperately need through their kids’ accomplishments. Many people are addicted to social media validation, it’s been pretty extensively studied. It’s just sadder when people use their kids to satisfy that addiction.

So really, don’t be mad, just feel sad for them (and especially their kids) and try not to feed into the cycle by commenting, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a swim parent, today I am blown away after SC champs at the level of intense, shameless bragging by some other swim parents about their kid's performance. I'm talking multiple pictures, video, time standards reports, MeetMobile screen shots, and in one case, even a specific mention of who their kid beat! Then all the comments and likes that further encourage this behavior - it's mind blowing. I have to admit, I am feeling very differently about a few people who have shocked me with their tacky, tasteless bragging and carrying on. I know, I know - just stay off social media, don't look if you don't like it, etc. But I have seen it now and I just really have to wonder about the psychology of these parents. Is is living vicariously or some deep insecurity? I have to wonder what it does to the kids. These are young children, who knows what the future holds for them athletically or otherwise. It's just so interesting that people feel the need to brag so outwardly. I would be so embarrassed. Anyway, just had to share my shock.

Did they share their updated IMX score?

As we know (eye roll) that IMX scores are all colleges care about.

[Anonymous]

For what its worth, I post it on social media so it's saved, and I can revisit it in the future.

I don't really care that much how much engagement it gets.

Plus, its a great way for my Dad to watch the highlights of his grandchildren.