With this, the baby boom among young new parents continues unabated. Now, another hot topic is going viral Baby Registry Etiquette — is it tacky to publicize your baby registry on social media? And according to a recent national poll, 65% of parents already favor putting the links to registries online. There’s a massive generational divide on the issue. Although the concept of self-care seems widely accepted, 80% of Gen Z moms support this approach. Gen Z’s Millennial counterparts aren’t fully on board 59%.
This generational gap is emblematic of larger trends in how different age groups use social media platforms. In fact, 40% of Gen Z parents truly lead the way by posting their registry links on these social platforms. By comparison, just one in four Millennial parents take the same action. Judging by Google alone, breaking with tradition isn’t so bad after all, though a minority of moms—19%—still find the act somewhat tacky. At the same time, 15% are not sure how they feel on the issue, indicating that this is a developing discussion of modern etiquette.
Generational Perspectives on Sharing Registries
The survey responses from parents shed light on just how different Gen Z and Millennial parents are when it comes to sharing registry information. About three-fourths of Gen Z moms understand the value of making their registries public. They discover that it uniquely and cost-effectively opens the floodgates and connects them with a much bigger audience.
A member of the What to Expect Community, N=Mama2youngins, noticed an intriguing trend. She commented on the increase in people posting their registry information on social media platforms. They stated, “It is becoming very common and accepted to do it.” It’s easy to see why so many in the younger generation have that attitude. They view social media as an essential extension of their community.
Millennial mothers appear more hesitant. User Rachael-evin expressed her personal discomfort with the idea, stating, “It’s personally not something that I would do.” Perhaps there is still some ambivalence among Millennials about whether it’s okay to ask for gifts in such a upfront way.
Social Media as a Modern Village
One of the justifications often cited for having pet registries on social media is the idea of community. Artist Dominique De Lope reminds us that social media is a lot like the new “village.” It gives parents a way to build support and awareness for their future arrivals.
Proponents of this new convention claim it doesn’t create any expectations for friends and family. N=Mama2youngins mentioned, “I’ve seen it plenty of times from friends and family, and I’ve never once felt obligated to purchase or felt like it was rude to post or send.”
146 users agreed, or articulated exactly the same thing. This freedom is crucial, they said, because registry users should have sharing registry information be optional for those who choose to share it. User NatC317 remarked, “There’s nothing tacky about giving people the option to contribute if they want to, and if they don’t want to, they can keep it moving.”
Concerns About Visibility and Etiquette
Despite the advantages of sharing registries online, concerns about visibility and etiquette remain prevalent. Other parents wonder what the point of posting is, if their ideal target audience isn’t even guaranteed to see it because of social media algorithms. User Elianarra voiced this concern, pointing out that “there’s no guarantee people will see a registry post.”
Moreover, other parents are concerned about perceived stigma about their reasons for sharing registry links. User Jbranmama commented on the potential for misinterpretation: “I think sending people a link to your registry or posting it somewhere if people don’t ask for it is super tacky and it’s you just asking for gifts.”
Some people escape this pitfall by creating compelling content to go with their links. For instance, user Crewsocksmama indicated a personal touch in her approach: “Hey, I know you guys would love to be at our shower but are just too far away! A few of you have asked if I have a registry for the baby, so I just wanted to pass this link along.”
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