Considering Birth Family Contact via Social Media?


Considering contact via social media?

*There is no privacy on social media. A boyfriend or husband may be reading the messages and be very angry about not knowing. (there is less acceptance of adoption and more acceptance of domestic abuse in most of EE/FSU)

*A mother may not actually be using that account, or not know how to check messages (this is true in USA too), doesn't reply, thus leaving the adoptee or AP feeling rejected, when the message was just not seen.

*No support for the birth mother in her processing of the situation.

*Birth mother may perceive it as a scam and/or blackmail attempt, especially given in Russia/other countries they have little experience with open adoptions. She may not reply because she is afraid.

*An experienced searcher is skilled in communicating with birth family, reassuring them of your good intentions. An experienced searcher will gather medical and family history for you.

My advice? Use social media as a way to connect afterwards, not as a way to establish initial contact.

Original version Sept 4, 2018 Adoptive Family CARE group

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