I knew as soon as I wrote this title that it seems to defy Jenkin logic. Why in the world Ted does my kid need to be on Social Media? With all the Instagramming, Facebooking, and Twittering, do I really need my child exposed to more technology and creepazoids who are trolling the Internet? My general thought around this has historically been no, but it is becoming increasingly hard to avoid the allure of freebies that can come by simply being plugged into social media. For those that thought this was a fad, you are quickly seeing a transformation around the future of how our children will do much of their communication. How is it possible that having your kids connected to social media can make them more smart money moves in their life? Here are three examples of how this change occurs:
- Example 1: BurgerFi (In Restaurant Giveaways)– For the past few weekends, my family and I have tried out a new burger, fries, and shake joint called #BurgerFi. This is a make-your-own burger from scratch, fries from scratch, and even a make-your-own Coca-Cola product from scratch, simply by pressing your choice of Coke products from the fancy soda-dispensing machine. I noticed the other night that if any customer took a picture and posted it to Instagram or Facebook or even Tweeted with the hashtag #BurgerFi, you would get a free dessert of small custard ice cream. The ice cream typically retails for $3.50 a person; a family of five saves almost $20 just by clicking a few buttons. Imagine how much can that save to the bottom line!
- Example 2: Facebook BOGO Offers– You may have noticed that just about all of the large companies have worked diligently over the past few years to increase their Facebook ‘likes’ and followers. Part of this is a branding effort, but it is also a call to action as an important part of marketing. Caribou Coffee, Dunkin’ Donuts, and not to mention many others, have placed offers on their Facebook pages giving a deal of the day or a BOGO offer. If your kids are already on Facebook and have a favorite shopping or eating establishment, this can be another smart money move to save a few bucks on their next meal or shopping spree.
- Example 3: Tweeting @Company For An Offer– What does this mean exactly? If you are shopping in one of your favorite brand name stores, most companies have a company page on Twitter. If you want to try to negotiate a deal or ask for a coupon, you might be able to directly Tweet them and get an instant response. This is a great way to save yourself some money and the company can get some great social media press at the same time.
Of course we all need to take precautions with our kids when it comes to social media and set appropriate boundaries. However, if you think about how to teach your kids to use the technology for more than just sharing a ‘pic’ or some cute quote they read on the internet, you might just be able to produce a money savvy child once they have to start to pay their own bills. This is a money lesson you can help them learn right in the middle of their next Instagram video!
Written by:
Ted Jenkin
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