Going Viral is Going CRAZY!

As I'm writing these very words, I'm watching CBS News and their coverage on the "Kiki Challenge".  People jumping out of a MOVING vehicle to perform a dance while being recorded.  I've watched this same story topic for over a week, now.  Apparently there's nothing exciting going on in our country that they have to report on viral video challenges.  Every day, they share how funny some of the videos are, or they talk about how dangerous some of the videos are.  People have posted videos of themselves jumping out of a car and falling, slamming into poles, and one girl is now in intensive care because of this "viral challenge".  

Yesterday, while watching The Talk, they discussed a YouTube dad who fed his children laxatives in order to get his video to go viral.  The children are shown crying in pain due to the stomach cramps the laxatives gave them.  What the heck is wrong with people?  They are willing to harm their own children to get some subscribers and likes on their YouTube channel?  How do they not realize the backlash something like that would cause?  Do they care?  

Also yesterday, I posted a video on my own Facebook that was circling around of a small child mouthing her daycare worker for being in time-out.  When I say mouthing, I mean the most disrespectful, unbelievable mouthing I could even fathom coming out of a 4 year old's mouth.  

People are sharing this video and think it's FUNNY.  Are you kidding me?  This is NOT funny.  This is downright disgusting, and I'd have a solid butt whooping in store for my child if she EVER spoke to someone like that.  And then I wonder why my colleagues and I are shocked at some of the disrespectful behavior we see from our students.
Is this what our world has come to?  People doing anything and everything to get their 15 minutes of fame?  Putting their lives in danger, torturing their kids, and laughing when their children are downright rude and disrespectful?  Is it any wonder why we have the problems in this country that we have?
I am shocked and appalled at how many videos I see of brutal fights, people being gunned down, animals tortured, and what do people do?  They record it on their cell phones.  Nobody steps in, nobody tries to help, they just want to capture it on video so they can post it to Facebook.
You know what I chalk it up to?  Fast fame and fast money.  We have become a society that are doing anything and everything we can to make a quick buck.  Kids are OBSESSED with YouTube, and they truly believe they can become instant millionaires by starting a YouTube page.  Then, they discover it's a little harder than they expected, so they are trying drastic measures to beat the competition and get some quick likes (money) to their YouTube page.
I have been amazed at how many kids have told me, in the past couple of years, that education really isn't that important because they're going to be YouTubers when they're older.  They have told me, straight to my face, "You don't need an education to make money on YouTube".  
I'm starting to feel like it's not just my students that need some education, but maybe some parents that need some education as to where this mentality is heading for their little angels.  
I'm not trying to bash any parent that allows their kids to use social media, but there HAS to be some education and structure when allowing children to utilize technology that can have some seriously dangerous effects.  Allowing your child to spend every waking moment on Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, or YouTube really is corrupting their minds.  
I teach reading and writing.  Two subjects I feel are becoming completely obsolete to children who tell me they don't read because they watch YouTube videos, and can't write because they're all about text lingo.  I've had parents tell me their children don't need to learn how to spell, because their devices can do that for them.  I've had parents tell me that it's not worth making my students read books, because they do plenty of reading on Facebook.  Seriously?  You want your child's reading skills to come from Facebook?
What scares me more than anything is the increasingly popular video challenges.  Eating tide pods, trying to swallow powered cinnamon, suffocating each other until they pass out, and now jumping out of cars to perform a dance.  Parents, I can't emphasis enough the dangers that are associated with these types of challenges.  Kids are dying or becoming seriously injured.  Don't wait until your child tries one of these stupid stunts to claim you didn't have any idea your child would participate in such a silly challenge.  Don't be shocked when your kid seriously hurts themselves because you assume they're smarter than that.  Peer pressure is real, and it appears, more serious than EVER.
It's now time to talk to your children about the dangers of these videos.  It's time to tell them that the 15 minutes of fame they may or may not receive just isn't worth it.  It's time to monitor your child's device usage!  Don't ever think your child would do something as stupid.. cause I've got news for you.  They will.
Something else to discuss with them?  How pulling out a cell phone when a fight breaks out or a person is being severely bullied is NOT the correct way to handle themselves in that situation.  Teach them how important it is to step in, if they can, or go for help.  Do SOMETHING to help the situation, instead of worrying about whether they can get the best video.  
I am so happy that our school district is now handing out HARSH punishments for kids who are videoing stuff like fights and bullying.  I'm devastated about having to admit that students, as young as 7th grade, have been suspended for sharing nude pics, posting photos on their Facebooks with alcohol or guns, or sharing fights they've recorded on their cellphones.  We've had to impose a "no device" rule during school hours, just to keep students focused on their school work.  
My school district is trying to do what they can, but just like any other serious issue like this, the first step needs to be taken at home!
While many parents have a dream that their child will grow up and make a name for themselves, having a child that will do ANYTHING to get a little fame on the internet isn't the best way to go.  Don't let your child's name be remembered as the kid who ended up dead because they competed in some stupid viral challenge, in jail because they posted a video of themselves beating someone senseless, or recognized as being the person who spews hate and bullying about a particular type of people.
It's one thing when you post a video of your child doing an amazing act of kindness, your animal doing the cutest behavior, or someone actually stepping in and being a hero.  Those videos are AWESOME, and I wish there were kindness challenge to take the place of some of the moronic challenges that are now swimming around.
Actually, that's not a bad idea.  Parents, please feel free to talk your kids into starting a kindness kraze challenge.  Challenge them to do something nice for a complete stranger, a kid who's lonely at school, or the elderly neighbor that has a hard time getting around.  Record that kind of stuff.  I would be much happier seeing my Facebook feed and the news explode with THAT challenge.  
At the end of the day, I'm just shocked and appalled at the lengths people will go to in order to go viral.  Have some common sense.  Parents, teach your children some common sense.  Adults, have some common sense and remember that kids are watching you.  Real, true fame takes hard work, it takes education, and it takes common sense.  And that's my public service announcement for today.

Rant Over!