I have, reluctantly, realized that I’m a social media stalker. I initially joined Facebook with the sole intention of using it as a tool to see what my children were doing while away at college. As my personal use of Facebook increased, their personal use decreased significantly.

My children barely now, if ever, use Facebook. They do, however, post frequently on Snapchat and once a day on Instagram (apparently, it is not cool to post more than one post a day on Instagram). So I have created Instagram and Snapchat accounts for myself primarily so that I can view their pictures. And I have learned my lesson. I rarely post anything of my own on Instagram and Snapchat, using both accounts predominantly to view my children’s postings.

I realized how prevelant  my addiction to viewing their posts was this past weekend. My three daughters left on Thursday evening for the oldest one’s bachelorette party in New Orleans. From the moment their flight landed in Louisiana, I have been checking in on Snapchat constantly, viewing pictures of the food they’re eating, drinks they’re drinking and the general mayhem they have been involved in. I probably could have done without looking at the videos of them playing with a phallic looking balloon that a man gave them on Bourbon Street but I couldn’t help myself. I know I am hooked.

Do you use Snapchat or Instagram?