Social media has revolutionized the way humans interact with one another. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google + and the various other social media platforms have allowed people to develop relationships outside of their cities, towns, states and countries.
People are interconnected in new ways. The world feels smaller than ever before. Today we are sharing four ways social media has positively impacted adoption.
- Social media enables adoptees to search for their birth parents in new ways. Having access to a large network of people allows information to spread more quickly than the pre-social media era. This has united many adoptees with their birth parents, which is significant as adoptees create their identities or desire to learn more about their birth family’s past.
- Community groups exist on several social media platforms for families in the adoption process and with completed adoptions to communicate and draw support from one another. Not only is access to community groups fostered through social media, but good news, when shared appropriately, can be celebrated on social media as well. MLJ Adoptions loves sharing when children are matched with their forever families or when we have a child come home into their forever family. Even more so, we delight in seeing families encourage one another on this journey.
- Adoption resources are more readily available to families because of social media. While the resources have existed prior to social media’s growth, they are now more easily accessible to adoptive families and easy to share. Access to adoption resources helps a family’s transition, attachment and problem-solving when issues arise.
- Selecting an adoption agency is a big decision. Social media allows prospective adoptive families to interact with adoption agencies before deciding which agency and country is right for them. Depending on the agency, families may be able to know which country programs are seeing growth based on what is shared on social media.
Even though managing information and privacy has been complicated by social media, it has benefited the adoption community in numerous ways. Today, MLJ Adoptions is excited to celebrate Social Media Day! You can find us on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. #SMDay
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.