That Time My Kid Googled Me and I Was No Longer “Dad”
The repercussions of your online presence as a parent
“Hey Daddy, are you popular?” My eight-year-old daughter ambushed me one Sunday morning, her voice squeaking equally with cheekiness and curiosity.
“Huh?” I said, deep in a different thought as I looked up from my phone, half-dazed in a scrolling coma.
“Are you famous?” She hugged her iPad to her chest like it held information that could risk national security.
“Why do you ask?” I quizzed, suddenly giving her my full attention, courtesy of my ego recognizing a stroking opportunity.
She flipped the iPad around. “Because I just googled your name and there are lots of photos and links and stories about you.”
I couldn't help but break into a smile. (Ego successfully stroked.) But then also a sense of dread as I thought, “Oh geezus…what has she seen?”
I grew up in the 1980’s, when the pinnacle of technology in the house was the video cassette recorder. Although, we were the poor souls with the Betamax model. I vividly remember going to the video rental store with my parents, spoilt for choice with a grand total of — wait for it — about six movies to pick from! Seriously, ‘The Goonies’? Again?! I mean, I'd seen it that…
