Mothers on Social Networking

Mothers have found a new friend in social networking sites… It may appear strange, but studies show that mothers are quiet active on these social networking and community sites. As per a survey undertaken by eMarketer, mothers seek out their online peers for support and advice. Also, they like to keep track of what their kids are doing online by being present on these social networking and community sites.

Various social networking sites have dedicated groups for mothers, both working and stay-at-home mother members. Such sites not only help them find mothers with similar interests but also provide them with a platform to seek support and share information. The number of increasingly tech-savvy mothers using social media is on rise. And they are not restricted to PCs and laptops to take over the cyber world! Our mothers are savvy enough to use their cell phones to go online.

Today’s moms are a social lot. They use social media such as Facebook, MySpace and BabyCenter Community regularly to connect with their old friends and to find a new lot. And their number is increasing significantly with each passing day. Sites focusing on specific mom-like interests such as parenting websites are attracting cyber moms like magnet. They use social media for word-of-mouth recommendations on brands and products. What is surprising is that mothers, also the decision makers most of the time, trust the information that they get on such online communities. It also goes true for products and services they might be interested in. Social Networking and community sites offer these mothers a medium of socializing and entertainment themselves. By connecting with other moms going through the same experiences at a given time, mothers get to enjoy the content-rich environments of these mom-centric communities while being at home or running their numerous errands. The latest Uma Thurman-starrer Motherhood treats the subject with a stark and groping humour.

Apart from getting information and connecting with peers online, mothers also see their time online as an escape from daily household chores. This is especially true for new mothers who are going through a life changing phase after childbirth. By interacting with other mothers going through the same phase, they learn how to cope with the situation calmly. They discuss recipes and ways of tackling problems that they face with their newborn. It has been observed that children’s health issues are the leading topic of interest in online communities followed by childhood development tips and product reviews. Unlike earlier days, mothers today play the role of a key decision maker in the health and well-being of her family. They look for opinions online and also do not hesitate to seek mom-to-mom wisdom using the internet and social media.

These social networking sites provide them direct contact with medical experts, famous chefs and people from the fashion fraternity. This gives them a chance to interact and find solutions for their problems with just a click of a mouse. And, the educated and tech savvy mothers of today make full use of this arrangement for their own benefit. The rise in the number of mothers on social networking sites can also be attributed to the fact that moms want to give their child the best that they can. So, they themselves can’t afford to be left behind in this internet-driven world!