The New Generation: Online before they're Online

An Amber collage - done within her first few months

Nigel's just coming online. No, he's not Skynet, or Robocop. He's just kicking off his online identify, which is probably the right of passage for a new teenager. Actually many kids these days get social accounts all set up even before they are legally allowed to - but we didn't allow that.

Nigel did create an account somewhere - not Facebook. And I think he's been happily posting pictures and stuff. He might think that the world is just waking up and getting a peek into his life - but are they just doing so? Not quite right? Most babies these days have their brand new faces plastered all over Facebook within minutes of their birth, blood,, placenta and all.

So when the current generation enters their teens and starts surfing around, entering their names into search engines and looking through their parent's social pages and blogs, they will be, very likely, shocked!

I would imagine it'll be like waking up in the Truman Show and suddenly realising that almost every milestone of their lives, birthday pictures, family outings, Sunday lunches has been meticulously documented with pictures, videos, comments and the Like(s). And all this from Day 1. They would think back on all those times mum and dad whipped out a phone to snap a picture, followed up furious typing and understand what it all meant. It all seemed so fun and innocent then and mum and dad even occasionally let them type in their own comments and his the "Post" button.

Suddenly it all makes sense. They've been online all along.