Current:Home > NewsFastexy:Millions are watching people share childhood diaries on TikTok. Maybe that's a bad idea. -ProsperityStream Academy
Fastexy:Millions are watching people share childhood diaries on TikTok. Maybe that's a bad idea.
Rekubit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-07 11:48:45
Our childhood diaries are Fastexysacred. We reveal clandestine crushes, scribble rage-filled rants, detail high hopes for an unknownfuture.
And some people are opting to share their past diary entries on TikTok, to the tune of more than 17 million views for the hashtag #readingmychildhooddiary alone.
Revisiting your childhood diary can be an innocent, invigorating experience – but remember to watch what you share and be kind to yourself in the process if you uncover or revisit previous traumas. Especially if you're revealing that information on social media.
"Before reading, adopt a frame of mind of care and compassion for you when you were going through what you did as a child," says Miranda Nadeau, a licensed psychologist. "Consider the needs you had or what you longed for in your life. It may be the case that you didn't have the support you deserved or craved around whatever was going on for you at the time."
'It might be just for fun'
Peeking at an old diary will likely make you giggle and wish you could give your younger self some advice. "Reflecting on your early diaries can be a great opportunity to notice the progress you've made in your life and, yes, to laugh at the embarrassing or cringe-worthy moments," Nadeau says.
Everyone likes a little bit of nostalgia, even when it might make you want to scream and wonder why you thought or acted a certain way as a kid.
"If they are revealing moments that make the person they are now cringe with embarrassment at who they used to be, laugh at themselves, and overall have an approach of light-heartedness, it might be just for fun," says Maryanne Fisher, a psychology professor at St. Mary's University in Canada. "Others might share in these moments because they went through them too, sharing in the embarrassment, and thus, feeling entertained. Or, younger adults might view these posts and feel a sense of belonging, validating that how they are feeling is perhaps not the most mature, but something shared with others."
'Traumatic experiences can have lasting emotional impacts'
Beware reading your diary and rediscovering – or even remembering for the first time since something happened – a past trauma. It could bubble up and disrupt your life.
"The critical thing here is to reflect on the past events as a part of the 'story' of your life," Nadeau says. "In the present, the events are only important insofar as they are important as parts of your life story today – not necessarily because they were life-changing to you at the time."
Fisher adds: "Traumatic experiences can have lasting emotional impacts, some of which may not be fully realized until later in life – if at all. I'd be wary about sharing genuine traumatic experiences with an unknown audience; the way these experiences are perceived and commented on could lead to hurt feelings among other outcomes."
Before you read your diary aloud, consider what you're putting out there – and who could get hurt in the process. It's not just your life. It might involve someone else's.
Use pseudonyms "to avoid any repercussions from old friends," Fisher says. Not doing so could result in inadvertently humiliating others.
"Posting one's childhood experiences may seem fine in the moment, but later on, there might be a sense of regret about publicizing one's personal thoughts at a particular stage of life."
A virtual diary, if you will:The Kardashians, body image and social media: Why parents should stop filtering their photos
'Practice compassion'
Be sure to, as always, give yourself grace when navigating new (or old) information about yourself that suddenly rears its head back into your life.
"Practice compassion for the you in the past and the present, and you can come out of this reflection with healing and a greater sense of contentment and respect for yourself in every stage of life," Nadeau says.
Also, consider why you want to air your dirty laundry to the public. Is it to gain more followers? For catharsis? For laughs?
Fisher says: "Most people would open an old diary they have written and read it when they felt ready – depending on the content they expect is inside – so the big question is why people feel compelled to share that content with an audience of people they do not know. If the intent is truly to have a little fun and mock oneself about being concerned about trivial things, that's great, but that might not always be the case."
Are you an accidental Instagram creep?The truth about 'reply guys' on social media
veryGood! (956)
Related
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- When do new episodes of 'Power Book II: Ghost' Season 4, Part One come out?
- US Olympic and other teams will bring their own AC units to Paris, undercutting environmental plan
- 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed denied immunity to testify at Alec Baldwin's trial
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Spain vs. Italy highlights: Spain wins Euro 2024 showdown with own goal, score
- How 'Bikeriders' stars Tom Hardy, Austin Butler channeled motorcycle gang culture
- Actor Ian McKellen hospitalized after falling off stage in London
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Air Force colonel identified as 1 of 2 men missing after small plane plunges into Alaskan lake
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Celebrations honor Willie Mays and Negro League players ahead of MLB game at Rickwood Field
- Man accused in killing and kidnappings in Louisiana waives extradition
- Man arrested in 2001 murder of Maryland woman; daughter says he’s her ex-boyfriend
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- A year in, Nebraska doctors say 12-week abortion ban has changed how they care for patients
- Why Heidi Klum Stripped Down in the Middle of an Interview
- The fight for abortion rights gets an unlikely messenger in swing state Pennsylvania: Sen. Bob Casey
Recommendation
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
North Korea and Russia's deepening ties prompt South Korea to reconsider ban on supplying weapons to Ukraine
Trump campaign says it raised $141 million in May, compared to $85 million for Biden
Gun injuries in 2023 still at higher rates than before pandemic across most states, CDC reports
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Sabrina Carpenter Reveals Her Signature Bangs Were Inspired By First Real Heartbreak
Thunder to trade Josh Giddey to Bulls for Alex Caruso, per report
580,000 JoyJolt glass coffee mugs recalled over burn and cut risks