Fabulous on Facebook

Guest blog by Kenna McHugh

“A girl should be two things: Classy and Fabulous.”  ― Coco Chanel

If I look fabulous on Facebook, then my life is fabulous. That’s like the saying “Fake it ‘til you make it.” I know my life as a mother is not perfect. If it was, life would be boring. Yet, when it comes to Facebook postings, all I want to post is how fabulous my family is doing.

The Moms Code author Eileen Wacker writes the acclaimed childrens books The Fujimini Adventure Series.  Learn more here.

Like our family Christmas card, I want my friends and family to see how great we are doing, and how happy we are.  That is classy and, for the most part, we are doing well. My kids are alive, and my husband comes home at night.  

I don’t want to share bad news on Facebook with a photo of my daughter being scared to death about going to the dentist. I want to share a photo of her after she gets her braces on with a smiley face commenting, “I am so proud of Rosalind. She made it through her first orthodontist appointment.”

If I post times we are not doing well, like photos of my kids looking pissed-off and my husband sleeping with his mouth wide open, “Our car broke down, and we had to miss the Giants game. We’ve been waiting by the side of the rode for 2 hours. Does anyone know of a better road service?” I don’t think my friends and family want to see that stuff. They’d unfriend me if I kept it up.  

It is better to spread good news than bad news. If anyone wants bad news, they can just turn on CNN. I look for Facebook moments that are fabulous, so my family looks fabulous because deep down in my heart they are fabulous.

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Why would I want to put on Facebook my teenage daughter having a meltdown because she thinks she is fat? What affect does that have on how my friends or family view my daughter? Is it classy? No. Showing how bad someone is doing on a social media website is just plain cruel. It is better so show a photo of my daughter smiling, “She won her heat in the breaststroke and took off 5 seconds. PB for Ros!”

Like I said, life is not perfect, but you can post the positives, and you get what you put your attention on. If I post happy family moments on Facebook, it is because I want my family and friends to know we are having a happy moment.  Whether at times it may seem quite the opposite, I still want my friends and family to think that my family is doing great because I like spreading good news. It is my aspiration to be doing fabulous.

Mom's Facebook Friends' Picture Comments Lead to Life Saving Diagnosis for her Daughter

When Tara Taylor posted a candid picture of her three-year-old daughter on Facebook she had no idea how glad she would be that she did. While most people who looked at the picture would assume that simple flash had caused little Rylee’s red eye, a few of Tara’s friends knew better. 

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Tara reported that several of her friends commented on the photo saying that it might be nothing but a glowing eye might signal a problem with the eye so she should consider getting it checked out.Tara took her friends’ advice and made her daughter an appointment with an eye doctor. She will forever be thankful that she not only posted that picture, but that she took their advice because at the eye doctor Rylee was diagnosed with Coats’ disease, an extremely rare disorder that can cause partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes. However, if the disease is discovered early enough, the condition can be prevented.

 Unfortunately, symptoms are difficult to detect until it is often too late- but luckily Facebook friends were able to detect one of the key early symptoms- a glowing yellow eye in flash photography. Thanks to Tara’s quick-acting Facebook friends, Rylee was able to receive the medical attention and treatment necessary to save her vision. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

The Most Popular Social Media Sites Parents Need to Know About

Not too long ago Facebook was the most well-known social media site, and most often the only one in use- but those days are long over. Back then it was easier for a parent to keep track of their child’s online activity, but with new apps and sites popping up every day it is getting more and more difficult for parents to know what the heck their kids are up to on their phones and computers. Even for someone who is familiar with various social media platforms and good with technology it can get pretty confusing. With all of the changes and new additions to social media, as a parent it is a waste of time to try and become an expert with all of them, however, being familiar with what is popular right now and how different apps and social media networks are used can make a huge difference in helping your child be safe and smart online. Polly Conway has done half the work for you already by creating a list of all the most popular apps and sites right now that kids and teens are using and explained what they all are- and what to watch out for. 

1. Kik Messenger

This is a free texting app with no message or character limits and no fees. 

What parents should know:

• It's loaded with ads and in-app-purchases. Kik specializes in "promoted chats" -- basically, conversations between brands and users. It also offers specially designed apps (accessible only through the main app), many of which offer products for sale.
• There's some stranger danger. An app named OinkText, linked to Kik, allows communication with strangers who share their Kik usernames to find people to chat with. There's also a Kik community blog where users can submit photos of themselves and screenshots of messages (sometimes displaying users' full names) to contests.

2. Instagram

This lets users snap, edit, and share photos and 15-second videos, either publicly or with a private network of followers. It unites the most popular features of social media sites: sharing, seeing, and commenting on photos. It also lets you apply fun filters and effects to your photos, making them look high quality and artistic.

What parents should know:

• Teens are on the lookout for "likes." Similar to the way they use Facebook, teens may measure the "success" of their photos -- even their self-worth -- by the number of likes or comments they receive. Posting a photo or video can be problematic if teens post it to validate their popularity.
• Public photos are the default. Photos and videos shared on Instagram are public unless privacy settings are adjusted. Hashtags and location information can make photos even more visible to communities beyond a teen's followers if his or her account is public.
• Private messaging is now an option. Instagram Direct allows users to send "private messages" to up to 15 mutual friends. These pictures don't show up on their public feeds. Although there's nothing wrong with group chats, kids may be more likely to share inappropriate stuff with their inner circles.

3. Tumblr

This site is like a cross between a blog and Twitter: It's a streaming scrapbook of text, photos, and/or videos and audio clips. Users create and follow short blogs, or "tumblelogs," that can be seen by anyone online (if made public). Many teens have tumblelogs for personal use: sharing photos, videos, musings, and things they find funny with their friends.

What parents should know:

• Porn is easy to find. This online hangout is hip and creative but sometimes raunchy. Pornographic images and videos and depictions of violence, self-harm, drug use, and offensive language are easily searchable.
• Privacy can be guarded but only through an awkward workaround. The first profile a member creates is public and viewable by anyone on the Internet. Members who desire full privacy have to create a second profile, which they're able to password-protect.
• Posts are often copied and shared. Reblogging on Tumblr is similar to re-tweeting: A post is reblogged from one tumblelog to another. Many teens like -- and, in fact, want -- their posts reblogged. But do you really want your kids' words and photos on someone else's page?

4. Vine

 This is a social media app that lets users post and watch looping six-second video clips. This Twitter-owned service has developed a unique community of people who post videos that are often creative, funny, and sometimes thought-provoking. Teens usually use Vine to create and share silly videos of themselves and/or their friends and families.

What parents should know:

• It's full of inappropriate videos. In three minutes of random searching, we came across a clip full of full-frontal male nudity, a woman in a fishnet shirt with her breasts exposed, and people blowing marijuana smoke into each other's mouths.
• There are significant privacy concerns. The videos you post, the accounts you follow, and the comments you make on videos all are public by default. But you can adjust your settings to protect your posts; only followers will see them, and you have to approve new followers.

5. Whisper

Whisper is a social "confessional" app that allows users to post whatever's on their minds, paired with an image. With all the emotions running through teens, anonymous outlets give them the freedom to share their feelings without fear of judgment.

What parents should know:

• Whispers are often sexual in nature. Some users use the app to try to hook up with people nearby, while others post "confessions" of desire. Lots of eye-catching nearly nude pics accompany these shared secrets.
• Content can be dark. People normally don't confess sunshine and rainbows; common Whisper topics include insecurity, depression, substance abuse, and various lies told to employers and teachers.
• Although it's anonymous to start, it may not stay that way. The app encourages users to exchange personal information in the "Meet Up" section.

6. Secret- Speak Freely

This is a social-media app that's designed to let people voice whatever's on their minds anonymously. Similar to Whisper, Secret lets people vent, confess, and share freely -- without anyone knowing who said what.

What parents should know:

• It tries to prevent users from defaming others. When Secret first launched in Silicon Valley, its adult users started using it to smack-talk their coworkers and bosses. Secret now detects when you mention someone by name (most of the time) and sends you a warning about it.
• It requires some private information. Despite the fact that it promises anonymity, it requires your email address and phone number.
• Kids may encounter strong language. We came across "hell" and "f--k" almost immediately.

To read the rest of the 15 apps and sites on Polly’s list, click here

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

How Social Media is Changing the World of Sports

It’s hard to deny that social media hasn’t impacted many aspects of our lives. Something that began as a way to connect with friends has rapidly woven its way into businesses, schools, long distance relationships with family or significant others, and much more. And now social media is changing the way we do sports. Within the last few years social media has become a big part of the lives of both the athletes and the fans. Statistics have shown that more than 80% of fans monitor various social media sites while watching a game on television, and up to 60% check into social media while at the game itself. Fans are using social media to check stats and scores, chat with other fans, and reach out to their favorite athletes. And the athletes are capitalizing on the social media buzz to increase their following, share information, and communicate with their fans. Football player Tim Tebow now holds the record for most tweets per second with a staggering 9,420 tweets every second- which is why even if you hated sports you’ve probably still heard about him. 

Social media’s use within sports doesn’t end at the professional level, but in recent years has begun to be increasingly popular for high school and college athletes as well, beginning right at the business of recruiting. Sites like Facebook and Twitter has helped coaches seek out, monitor, and eventually recruit many high school athletes when the only strategy for doing that used to be through mail or phone call after phone call. Social media has assisted countless college athletes into almost a celebrity-like status, some of them having thousands of followers on Twitter alone. 

But with this new-found online fame comes with it a lot of new responsibilities as well. Student athletes need to be wary that at all times they are representing their team, their school, their coaches, and themselves. Some coaches ban the use of social media altogether, but in recent years many of them have accepted that such strategies aren’t as realistic anymore. So now coaches work with athletes to teach them what is acceptable “social media behavior” and what isn’t. The NCAA is also on board with this, holding conferences to educate student athletes about the best ways to use social media, with a special emphasis on Twitter- which is home to the most sports-related issues. During the conferences they explain to the athletes strategies for maintaining a positive image online at all times, including not trash talking teammates or coaches, avoiding conflict with members of opposing teams, and avoiding any profanity or pictures that can potentially send the wrong message. 

When used appropriately, social media has opened up a whole new world for both athletes and their fans. And I expect as the years go on this is a trend that will only continue to grow in both its importance and popularity. 

Houston Tutor Reminds Us of all the Good in the World

One of our favorite subjects to blog about at ONCEkids are people who inspire us. And thanks to the internet, finding and sharing inspirational stories has become easier than ever. I often hear people complain that because of the ability to share news around the world with the click of a button, it makes the negativity and tragedy that goes on shoved in our faces all the time, thus bringing us down. While this may be true to some extent, we have been working to change this idea by helping to share positive stories and instead of focusing on the evil in the world, to focus on all the love and kindness. Cause if there is one thing that you can’t argue it is that “sharing” on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and various blogs has shown us that there are so many real life heroes in every corner of the world who, without the Internet, may have gone unnoticed. 

Take Kenny Thompson for example. This man has been dubbed the “lunch angel” after paying off the overdue lunch accounts of 60 kids at Houston’s Valley Oaks Elementary School. The longtime tutor and mentor was uneasy and upset after learning that many of the children who go to the school are on a reduced lunch meal plan and even then cannot afford the daily meals. Many of them will even skip the lunch line out of shame and embarrassment. It was after hearing this that he took it upon himself to go down to the school and spend $465 dollars to make sure that all the children were getting properly fed each day. He did this in the hope that it would ensure the children had the nutrition and security they needed to make each day at school a happy one. 

He comments on his actions saying, “These are elementary school kids. They don’t need to be worrying about finances. They need to be worried about what grade they got in spelling. When I left the building knowing that they were getting fed, they didn’t have that stress- the best money I ever spent.” 

Mr. Thompson’s concern and generosity is admirable, and thanks to social media his touching story has already inspired thousands of readers. 

For other inspirational stories of real-life heroes, but sure to check out our blog page! 

23-Year-Old Snapchat Founder Turns Down $4 Billion For His Idea: Is He Brilliant or Just Insane?

Is he the most brilliant entrepreneur ever or a crazy man? That is the question everyone is asking after news that the co-founder of Snapchat turned down the deal of a lifetime.

Only a few years ago, Evan Spiegal was your average college student, but since then the now 23-year-old has turned a hobby into a world-wide phenomenon. 

His interest in designing software started in high school when developing video game emulators grew into building and designing websites for friends.

Spiegal's hobbies showed his obvious talents and his interest in the subject only continued to grow into college.

The revolutionary smartphone app was created out of an idea between Spiegal and his frat boy buddies. They were brainstorming a way you could share pictures and then have them disappear into cyberspace without having to save or delete them. 

The unique concept, which can be thought of as essentially texting through pictures, has become an overnight sensation for smartphone users. Whether it's snapping pictures of funny faces or what they're having for dinner that night, people of all ages are getting hooked. 

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This popularity has led Spiegal to believe that Snapchat has a lot farther to climb and a promising future ahead, so much so that he turned down a $3 billion offer from Facebook

for the app. Not only that, but he then proceeded to turn down a second offer from Google for $4 billion! He stands by his decision, positive that Snapchat will one day be capable of being an industry of its own. You almost have to admire his confidence! 

Again, we ask ourselves- brilliant or crazy? I guess only time will be able to tell if the young businessman was correct in standing by his idea or if he should have taken the money while his app was still in high demand.

The Heroes of the Boston Marathon Explosion

When tragedies like the bombing at the Boston Marathon happen, many of us find that we immediately begin to question humanity and ask ourselves what is happening to the world. I found myself in this trap as well. Several of us at ONCEkids have family in Boston or even grew up there, so news of this tragedy really hit home. 

Not long after hearing the news, I was surfing the Internet letting myself sink into that inevitable pessimism, when I stumbled upon some articles and pictures people had shared on Facebook. 

Clicking on one share led to another and another until instead of being depressed and disappointed with humanity, I found myself becoming inspired. It was then that it hit me, instead of focusing on the few individuals who have lost their sense of compassion, we should instead focus on all the people who still display infinite amounts of kindness. The shares I was reading on Facebook were stories and pictures of all the people who stepped out of the shadows to demonstrate courage and bravery that is both admirable as well as inspiring. 

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One of the first things I read was how many of the people who finished the marathon continued running all the way to the hospital to donate blood or find some other way they could pitch in. On Twitter people tweeted stories about a responder who wheeled a woman to safety and then ran back into the danger to rescue more people. Countless pictures and videos were shared of people finding their loved ones after being separated by the explosion and others comforting injured or scared strangers. 

Even former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi stepped up to help carry an injured woman to help. Restaurants all over Boston opened up their doors, giving free food to any locals or runners in need. One of the most moving posts I saw was the list of hundreds of entries on Google Doc of people living in the Boston area offering to pick up or house any people who may be stranded. 

 So tell us your stories! Share with us any knowledge you have or stories you've heard of heroes at the Boston Marathon explosion. We would love to hear anything from small acts of kindness to extreme displays of heroism, everyone is a hero to us!

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Why Mom's Really On Facebook

With the popularity and significance of social networking and social media sites reaching an all time high, more and more parents are tuning in to see what all the buzz is about. The results from several studies showed that around 90 percent of parents reported creating a Facebook account in order to monitor their children's online activity. These parent's indicated that being able to have access to their child's Facebook page was their initial reason for creating a page themselves- but since social media has become increasingly popular for people other than teenagers, are adults beginning to have other reasons to stay online? 

As hard as our kids may find it to believe, we aren't becoming part of the social media world solely to ruin their social life and drive them crazy. Joining Facebook provides parents the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, possibly track down an old flame, maybe even check out what became of that jerk on your track team in high school- ah with modern technology the possibilities are endless! 

Has your family received a Nook, Kindle or iPad this year?  Find Fujimini Adventure Series award-winning books here.  Great family-friendly gifts.

Facebook makes it easy for adults to keep in touch with far away relatives and friends, sharing pictures and comments with each other with the click of a button. 

Facebook is even creeping its way into the workforce. Countless companies are creating and maintaining Facebook accounts, blog accounts, Twitter accounts, and so on- so nowadays it wouldn't be terribly unusual for you to have to make a Facebook page for your job. 

Since 2010, the amount of mothers in America who are on Facebook has made the jump from 50 percent to over 72 percent- and is most likely only going to go up from there. 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

Comment below and tell us your reasons for being online!

Education: Integrating Social Media into Schools (Part 2 of 3)

Earlier we discussed the benefits of YouTube, today we move on to Facebook and YouTube.

The use of social media is something that has been carefully avoided, and often times banned, from schools -- but with rapidly changing technology and an increasing relevance of social networking in people's personal lives and even at work, it is a subject that is becoming hard to ignore. Social networking is a trend that is unlikely to become quiet anytime soon, so shouldn't schools try to find positive uses for the social media rather than just sweeping it under the carpet? Most parents and teachers have been well informed of the horror stories of Facebook or MySpace but many aren't aware of the many benefits such sites can have. If  done properly, teachers can utilize social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to connect, notify, teach, and curate. 

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Facebook is often used as a means of communication between students. If a student has a question about a test or homework assignment he or she can easily look up a classmate on Facebook and ask. This has been a method used since the creation of Facebook- so why not extend it by adding teacher-student communication? Teachers can use Facebook to make a page or group that the students can join. Teachers can then use the page to schedule events, post notes, and remind students of upcoming tests or due dates. Teenagers are on Facebook so often they can't miss it! Facebook also caters to students with apps and groups such as Flashcards and WeRead. These apps are a fun and easy way of learning that modern day teens can really connect with.

Learn more about educator, acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here 

Recently Twitter's popularity has been soaring, especially with businesses. There are countless ways this new trend can be integrated into the classroom. Teachers can create a feed specifically for the class for their students to follow. This way they can tweet about upcoming tests and assignments, class news, events, and other reminders. It is a fast and easy way to get the word out -- plus students will see the tweets every time they check their Twitter pages (which is probably quite frequently). Teachers can also bring Twitter to the classroom by posting links and articles onto the site for students to view outside of class. This makes homework more interesting than a simple textbook or handout (not to mention- it saves a lot of printing!). Tracking hash tags, memes, and current events can allow teachers to find information relevant to the curriculum and incorporate it into class time, making it a more interesting and "hip" way for students to learn. 

Facebook and Twitter are also perfect sites for not just student-teacher communication, but also communication with other teachers. Groups on Facebook and feeds on Twitter can allow teachers to seek out one another and share ideas. It is also an easy way for parents to connect with teachers and see what their child is learning. 

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are mostly viewed by parents and educators as hindering to their child's education-and in certain instances it can be -- but this can be minimized by incorporating social media into education rather than separating it out. Our youth loves social networking, so we should use that to our advantage to help them love learning too!

Click here to return and visit Part 1: YouTube.

Hey Mom, Do You Facebook?

Most people seem to think that mothers are only on Facebook to check up on their kids -- and that is why many moms initially get a Facebook -- but studies show that 99% of moms on Facebook are actually using it for designated "me time". 

Facebook has created a new outlet for moms to keep in touch with friends and family, find out about sales, look up recipe ideas, and more. Facebook has become especially popular with moms who are constantly on-the-go. It allows moms who lead hectic, busy lives to be able to constantly have access to what's going on and the ability to contact/stay in touch with friends. 

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The study, conducted by marketing company Mums Now, also found that the majority of Facebook activity occurs between the hours of 8 and 10 pm. Activity is significantly lower during the weekdays from 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Are you a mom on Facebook?  Why and how often do you use the site? Which of the 10 Types of Facebook Moms are you?

Moms in Publishing: Creating a New Language

ONCEKids Publishing is active in social media to spread ideas to our followers and fellow Mompreneurs. For those who are not active within social media websites, such as Facebook or Twitter, hearing about how it works can feel like hearing a different language- and in many ways it is. 

This new language has become the language of the web. A recent update of the Oxford English Dictionary has altered its lexicon to include words such as "LOL", meaning laugh out loud, and "OMG", which stands  for oh my god. Facebook has created terms such as "friending" someone, which is the act of accepting or requesting someone to be part of your social network page. The term "to google" has even been established as a verb used when someone is trying to describe looking something up on the web. Coming up with names and terms that sticks may be just as important to a company as the site design itself.

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An example of a site that has created its own language with incredible results is Twitter. Words such as "tweet" or "follow" have been established to mean message and subscribing to someone's twitter page with great success. Even symbols such as @, denoting an online name, and #, a hashtag denoting a topic, have been popularized throughout the site, as well as the entire web. Even many people who do not participate in Twitter understand what these terms and symbols mean. 

Other companies are trying to coin words that become as popular as Facebook, Twitter, and Google's words, sometimes with great success, other times with little success. Microsoft's efforts to popularize the phrase "Bing it!", even paying the popular show  "Gossip Girl" to use it during the show, was met with ridicule by others on the web. However, sites such as Pinterest , a site that allows people to create virtual inboards or bulletin boards, have found success with the phrase to "pin" favorite images. 

To learn more about the author of this article Eileen Wacker and her acclaimed book series,  visit ONCEKids, ONCEKids on Facebook,  ONCEKids on Twitter.

The secret seems to be that the successful ones appear more naturally occurring, even if the creation is entirely artificial. 

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