There are many reasons to use Facebook, just like there are many types of people using it. Mothers, in particular, are pretty active sharing pictures and opinions and whatnot. Whether it’s you or someone in your circle of friends, you’ll likely recognize these five types of Facebook moms:
The Frequent Poster
First, there are moms who just can’t stop posting pictures of their children, especially babies. That’s often because these women feel more societal pressure to be perfect mothers and view motherhood as central to their identity, according to a study by Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, professor of human sciences and psychology at Ohio State University, who points out that most mothers surveyed used their baby's image as a profile photo at some point.
The Advice Seeker
Second, a lot of moms on Facebook seek guidance and support from a large community. While this can help in many ways, like validating their own decisions and actions at home, the same study also found that frequent posting for some users can amplify their anxiety about motherhood.
The Hawk
Third, mothers can use Facebook to keep an eye on their young teenage girls (or boys), like finding out who they are friends with and knowing what they’re up to. Many are looking to forge yet another tie with their children, but some experts caution that this can have a perverse effect when kids don’t approve of their parents’ over-protective ways.
The Liker
Fourth, many women on Facebook can be summed up in one word: “Like.” Whether it’s a cute photo, a useful piece of advice, a mouth-watering recipe, a new sweepstake or just an ordinary comment, you’ll be sure to know that they liked it.
The Lurker
And finally, there are moms who just want to know what’s going on Facebook and read what everybody is talking about. They usually don’t post a lot; they merely want to look out the window and see the world.