Big Brother is watching you. If you're familiar with George Orwell's futuristic book "1984," you know all about Big Brother. He, She or It was a presence that was ubiquitous. Big Brother saw all and knew all. There was no privacy. One's actions and activities were constantly monitored, and anyone who fell out of step with conventional thought and actions was quickly discovered and dealt with accordingly.
The click seen 'round the world
For years, many of us equated Big Brother with Uncle Sam. The closer we got to 1984, the more threatened we felt - the more suspicious we were of the government. Would our society mirror Orwell's "1984"? How ironic it is that in 2018 we not only have to be leery of government's watchful eye but also wary of one another and the click of our cellphone cameras.
Tom Tozer and Bill Black pose for a portrait Monday, March 28, 2016 at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.We are able to capture magic moments on the spot. It's great to snap a photo of the dog and cat nose to nose, or Aunt Edna taking a bite of birthday cake, or best pals at a class reunion. Those same cameras, however, go click when so-and-so has had too much to drink or, click, when a mom severely disciplines her child in the grocery store or, click, when picking your nose goes viral on the internet.
Watch what you're doing
Cameras can catch bad guys in the act. But so can cameras catch good guys acting badly. All of us have experienced temporary lapses in good judgment that have resulted in shameful or embarrassing behavior. With today's technology, those lapses can be caught on camera only to become a global spectator sensation.
Dad, you need to remind your teenagers that whenever they hang out anywhere with anyone, they are fair game for a photo-op. They need to be careful of the company they keep and the activities in which they participate. In this voyeuristic age, one misstep can lead to a fall off a cliff. And no one needs their permission to pick up, photograph and post the pieces.
Keeping privacy private
There is no argument that the communication devices we have today enable us to do wondrous things. There is a concern, however, that more of us are turning into observers rather than participants. We are looking for bizarre and sensational behavior, the unusual and/or shocking activity that we can freeze in time with our cameras - and then share through the many avenues of social media. We are becoming curators of our own photo exhibits.
This state of affairs does not signal the end of the world. But it does signify the emergence of a new and different world. Your kids need to know that privacy is becoming more public. In addition, you should tell them that if they are contributing to this intrusion of privacy through the use of their own cellphone cameras, they might be setting a trap that will eventually ensnare them.
We need to look out for one another. We also need to mind our own business. We can do both.
Tom Tozer and Bill Black are authors of "Dads2Dads: Tools for Raising Teenagers." Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at Dads2Dadsllc. Contact them at tomandbill@Dads2Dadsllc.com.