Courtside Forever Episode 10 | The Cost of Inauthenticity for Parents and Kids

Remember MySpace? AOL Instant Messenger? Those early days of social media were chaotic, unfiltered, and, honestly, a lot more personal than what we see today. We weren’t worried about algorithms or crafting the perfect aesthetic—we were just connecting. Fast forward to now, and everything feels polished, curated, and designed for engagement.

As a parent, this shift raises a big question: How do we help our kids navigate a digital world that prioritizes appearances over authenticity?

That’s exactly what I’m breaking down in this episode of Courtside Forever.

A Look Back: From MySpace to the Instagram Era

If you grew up in the early 2000s, social media wasn’t about followers or engagement rates. It was about picking the perfect song for your MySpace profile and hoping your crush saw your AIM away message. It was real, messy, and—most importantly—not designed to be a highlight reel.

Today’s version of social media is a whole different beast. Everything is curated. Kids are growing up seeing “perfect” lives online, and whether we like it or not, it’s shaping how they view themselves and the world around them.

Why This Matters for Parents

Unlike us, our kids aren’t gradually adapting to social media—it’s been part of their world since day one. And while there’s nothing wrong with technology, the way these platforms are built can impact:

✔️ How they see themselves – When "likes" and filters determine value, kids start basing their self-worth on online validation.
✔️ How they connect with others – Real-life friendships can take a backseat when digital connections feel like the priority.
✔️ How they view reality – The highlight reel culture makes it easy to compare their everyday life to someone else’s curated version of success.

And let’s be real—this doesn’t just affect kids. We, as parents, can fall into the same traps. The way we engage with social media sends a message, whether we realize it or not.

So, What Can We Do?

It’s not about banning social media. It’s about teaching our kids how to use it without losing themselves in it.

📌 Talk about it – Have honest conversations about what’s real and what’s just for show. Social media isn’t the enemy, but blindly trusting everything we see online can be a problem.

📌 Teach them to think critically – Help them understand that algorithms push content designed to keep them scrolling. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s real or even good for them.

📌 Model healthy habits – If we’re constantly checking our phones or stressing over engagement, what message does that send? Our kids are watching how we interact with social media.

📌 Make offline life a priority – Encourage real experiences that don’t need to be posted. Family dinners, hobbies, sports—these moments matter, whether they get likes or not.

Let’s Keep This Conversation Going

Parenting in the digital age isn’t easy, and none of us have it all figured out. But we can help our kids build a healthier relationship with social media—one that prioritizes authenticity over approval.

What’s been your biggest challenge with social media and parenting? Have you found any strategies that work? Let’s talk about it.