The new-age way to welcome baby to the world? Posting motherhood photos of you with your new tootsie on Facebook, clearly. With so many prime-cuteness opportunities to get a gazillion likes (looking at you, cake smash moments), it can be hard to restrain yourself from sharing every single adorbs thing with your friends and fam via the Internet. But some moms definitely pop up on your feed more than others, and a new study discovered what kind of mom is most likely to post about their kid on social media. And, if we’re being really honest, they probably had an Instagram account ready to go before their little one was born.
Turns out, moms who feel societal pressure to be the perfect mom and moms who identified most strongly with their role as a mother posted most frequently about their kids on Facebook. Also, the same moms who posted most frequently reported stronger emotional reactions to likes and comments on the photos, like feeling bad if they didn’t get enough positive comments.
Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, lead author of the study and professor of human sciences at Ohio State University, says that being tied to Facebook likes isn’t the best thing for moms (or anyone). “If a mother is posting on Facebook to get affirmation that she’s doing a good job and doesn’t get all the ‘likes’ and positive comments she expects, that could be a problem. She may end up feeling worse.”
The study, which included 127 working moms in Ohio who were highly educated and mostly married, also found a link between posting frequently to Facebook and reporting more depressive symptoms after nine months of parenthood. However, because the group only included highly-educated women in dual-career relationships, the researchers noted that the results may not hold true for all new mothers (we’re thinking because they may not deal with the same stress of juggling work and baby or the guilt of leaving their baby to go to work).
Also, the study found that new moms are really into social media. A staggering 98 percent of women in the study reported sharing photos of their infant on Facebook, typically within one week of the baby being born. Whoa. In addition, 80 percent of women who had posted a picture of their baby have made a photo of their child their profile picture.
“The message of the study isn’t that Facebook is necessarily harmful, but that using Facebook may not be an effective platform for women to seek and gain external validation that they’re good moms,” says Jill Yavorsky, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in sociology at Ohio State University.
Researchers are quick to note that all mothers should be aware of WHY they are using Facebook. “It’s great to share stories and pictures of your baby, but relying on Facebook to feel good about your parenting may be risky,” Schoppe-Sullivan says.
Are you a new mom posting pics of your baby? Tag us in them @BritandCo!
(Photo via Getty)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.