Facebook: People saying "happy birthday" to other people's kids

[thebloodycat]

Just a small rant.

I often see a parent post a photo (old or new) saying something like "happy birthday to our darling baby girl, can't believe you're 5 already" blah blah blah, vomit. What I then find even more odd and annoying is then 500 of their friends will start saying "happy birthday xxx".

What's the bloody point? The kid isn't on Facebook!!?

Or am I being mean??

[dementedpixie]

Yes you are

[thebloodycat]

Why?

[TheSparrowhawk]

Wow what a misery you are.

[Buddahbelly]

No your not, I find it weird too, although I find it weird when the parent posts happy birthday to my darling whatever... Is this 3 year old on facebook to see it? Can they read it?

Just get off social media and say happy birthday to one another!

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

It's nice to be nice. I can think of thousands of things to get annoyed at about fb, people acknowledging a child's birthday isn't one of them.

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

I dislike most facebooky things, but surely that is fairly innocuous?

[BingBongBingBong]

I think it's cute.

[thebloodycat]

I'm not a misery at all and I love birthdays. To me it's like sending a text to the wrong number. The kid will never see it! If the friends were that bothered they'd send a card or say it face to face, wouldn't they?

Buddahbelly, I agree just as odd really. What's the point?

[NerrSnerr]

I agree. When I see 'Happy first birthday Evie. Mummy and daddy love you lots' etc on FB if makes me cringe. Why not tell Evie to her face as I am quite sure she can't read.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I think people texting parents to say happy birthday to their children has happened for a long time, and Facebook just makes it easier. Keeps it all together.

For all of Facebook's ills, I really can't get upset about that one. Children tend to be significant to their parents, I make sure I congratulate my friends' children on their birthdays the same as I'd congratulate friends on promotions/new houses/whatever other life news they have.

[Excited101]

I think it's quite weird. If you want to wish the child happy birthday then send them a card, at least they can enjoy the picture then!

I've got someone who FB memories of her children constantly. So alongside the current pics which I don't mind too much as it's nice to see what they get up to, we also have the pictures from 1/2/3/4 years ago as well!

[thebloodycat]

NerrSnerr haha. It's one thing saying it to an adult that's not on facebook (at least someone could show them) but saying to a baby/child that's not on there and can't even read!!!

ElsaAintAsColdAsMe, I agree it is nice to be nice.

[FoxesOnSocks]

Unlike text to wrong number the Facebook account holder knows the person being wishd a happy birthday. They may very well pass on said greetings.

In an reverse analogy, if a person wrote something negative about a child on a Facebook page would it be still not nice even though it's not the child's Facebook page so they won't see it?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

The kid will never see it! If the friends were that bothered they'd send a card or say it face to face, wouldn't they?

Crossposts, but I know plenty of parents who show their children things on Facebook, and would show them the post and responses. Plus, not everyone will send a card or see the child - acquaintances might just want to send regards easily, the same way they would have sent a text. And the child might be at school/with the other parent/otherwise engaged on their actual birthday, or the friend could be working or busy, and a Facebook message is a quick and easy way of showing that you remembered.

Maybe it's generational.

[thebloodycat]

I suppose you could pass on a greeting to a 5 year old but surely not a baby??

I don't really think that is a reverse analogy as the parents wouldn't be prompting it, as they are with a photo saying "happy birthday xx"

[A7mint]

God! People on MN are so literal!

[HappyCamel]

Children do get to hear it. Either reading it themselves or having the message read to them.

It's especially good when you're in a different country to lots of friends and family. We get a few paper cards but lots of messages and the kids like to hear the message and see a photo of the person who sent it so they remember who they are

[thebloodycat]

Plus, not everyone will send a card If you can't be bothered or don't know them well enough to send a card, what's the point at all???

Don't get me started on vaguebook!!!

[thebloodycat]

To be honest my gut feeling it, it's another of those hidden messages that says "look how many friends I have".

Or if it's a picture of the kid in-front of loads of presents its "look how much money we have spent!"

[TheSparrowhawk]

It is friendly and kind to acknowledge an important day in someone's life, and for parents their child's birthday is an important day. Wishing the child happy birthday is a way of being kind and friendly. Hardly something to be annoyed about.

Vaguebooking is manipulative, which is why it annoys people.

[TheSparrowhawk]

To be honest my gut feeling it, it's another of those hidden messages that says "look how many friends I have".

Or if it's a picture of the kid in-front of loads of presents its "look how much money we have spent!"

Ah, so you're jealous.

[SoupDragon]

I suppose you could pass on a greeting to a 5 year old but surely not a baby??

I'm guessing you never bothered to celebrate your child(ren)’s bpfirst birthdays etc then.

[thebloodycat]

Ah, so you're jealous Why an earth would that mean I'm jealous? I could do exactly the same if I wanted. I have children, I have Facebook and I probably have similar finances to them. I just don't because it's ridiculous.

katiegg - omg tagging people to induce the comments!!!