A Stanford Facebook Class? Are You Kidding Me?

Over the last few months, I’ve grown increasingly annoyed by social media – and those trying to make a buck off of it as “social media gurus.”

So what does CNN do? Give me someone else to dislike:

Many of these older folks use social networks to keep tabs on younger family members and they often find fruitful connections with their peers after they’ve friended all of their kids and grandkids, according to an informal survey by Stanford University professor BJ Fogg.

[...]

Parents who are interested in their kids’ online activities contribute to the sharp increase in older users on Facebook, said Linda Fogg-Phillips, a 49-year-old who, with her brother, co-taught a six-week class at Stanford called “Facebook for Parents.”

I found “Stanford Facebook for Parents” class website, which boasts (among other things) artwork with two Facebook logos – one with a halo, the other with horns. I kid you not.

Here’s a sample from their webpage:

In this class we emphasize “how to think” about Facebook more than “what to do” on Facebook. Our “how to think” approach empowers parents. When you can think clearly about Facebook, you are then better prepared for whatever comes next. In contrast, if we simply dictate “what to do” on Facebook, those steps may not be appropriate as your child gets older or as Facebook evolves.

Here’s the list of topics. My favorite? “Friend Lists & life skills for the future.”

Life skills for the future? Holy crap. It’s a website people – not grad school. Sure, things like staying safe online are important, but a 6-week course on the ins and outs of Facebook? Really?

What about teaching parents how to be involved in their kids’ lives? We didn’t grow up with Facebook, and my brother and I turned out okay. What happened to dinners around tables?

I guess if we still did stuff like that, BJ Fogg and others would have to find work as gurus in something else, as long as it pays well. I couldn’t find any pricing info on their website, nor on Fogg’s other sites I found.

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**To be fully transparent, I do have a Facebook page (and am on Twitter). I closed my Facebook account for almost a year, but rejoined after being nagged to death by my friends. Granted, they had to nag me in real life, not from across the Internet.