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Mother Challenged Her Son To Not Use Social Media Until He Turned 18 to get $1,800 Dollars
Mother Challenged Her Son To Not Use Social Media Until He Turned 18 to get $1,800 Dollars
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Mother Challenged Her Son To Not Use Social Media Until He Turned 18 to get $1,800 Dollars

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Social media has its obvious benefits and drawbacks for everyone. But it hits different in teenage years. Teens get very social and naturally spend more time on their phones. However, it may become a serious addiction or exacerbate some serious mental problems. And so, parents try to think of some ways to help their teenage kids get through this tricky period without making the problems worse through social media.

Now, straight up forbidding someone to do something won’t really work. Lorna Goldstrand Klefsaas found a more acceptable upbringing approach. Knowing that her 12-year-old son was very competitive, she gave him a challenge: if he didn’t use social media until he turned 18, he’d get 18 hundred dollars in return. Sivert accepted the challenge. Here’s how it went.

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    When Sivert Klefsaas turned 12, his mother gave him a challenge to stay off of social media for 6 years

    Image credits: lornatravels

    In return, if he’s successful, he’d get $1,800 dollars for his 18th birthday

    Image credits: lornatravels

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    Surprisingly, the 4 years went by without any major temptations or dark moments. Sivert just wasn’t used to social media before the challenge, so he didn’t think he was missing out on much. “I wouldn’t say there was ever a time where I thought I was about to break. As it went on, it was more of a pride thing.”

    As with all teenagers, the years flew by, and Sivert came of age

    And drumroll…

    Image credits: lornatravels

    He successfully completed the challenge and received 18 hundred dollars

    Image credits: lornatravels

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    Funnily enough, Sivert hasn’t put much thought into what he’s going to buy

    Image credits: lornatravels

    He’s probably going to buy something for his dorm room for a university that he’s going to attend in fall

    Image credits: lornatravels

    Lorna, Sivert’s mom isn’t against her son using social media, or anyone else for that matter. “We are certainly not against social media, but it’s the healthy using of it,” Lorna noted. “It’s about not letting yourself get weighed down by it, or addicted to it, or affected by things that people post.”

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    The challenge had some great side benefits: the kid focused on sports and studying instead of lurking on the socials

    Image credits: lornatravels

    Sivert mentioned that his first social media app that he looks forward to using is Instagram

    Image credits: lornatravels

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    It’s looking like Sivert’s set up for a bright future

    Image credits: lornatravels

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    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

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    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Read less »
    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Titas Burinskas

    Titas Burinskas

    Moderator, Community member

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    This dude right here? He works as a Community Manager at Bored Panda. Has no back-story, cause his spine works just fine. He writes about himself in third-person, and in first-person about others. Fell in love with storytelling and cannot let that love go. Now, he's here to help you make your own story simply beautiful. Secretly makes cute music samples and writes stories in the dark that nobody has ever heard of before.

    Read less »

    Titas Burinskas

    Titas Burinskas

    Moderator, Community member

    This dude right here? He works as a Community Manager at Bored Panda. Has no back-story, cause his spine works just fine. He writes about himself in third-person, and in first-person about others. Fell in love with storytelling and cannot let that love go. Now, he's here to help you make your own story simply beautiful. Secretly makes cute music samples and writes stories in the dark that nobody has ever heard of before.

    What do you think ?
    Angel Williams
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The kid doesnt have his *own* social media - but his Mom plasters his face all over hers, even as far back as "327 weeks" ago - thats 6.2 years!

    Eric Mac Fadden
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My son doesn't shows interest on social networks, he just turned 17. He thinks it's dumb.

    Om
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that was me back in the day, before social media exploded, until I was forced to join Facebook because otherwise I was missing announcements some teachers were doing through some of our classmates, who would only post it on a Facebook group instead of making sure everyone knew before leaving school. Same with any time I went out with friends and we would take pictures, god forbid they sent me the pics through email, I had to be on Facebook or I wouldn't get to see anything. Now I'm the only one left on Facebook, while the rest keep jumping from social media to social media every few years.

    Load More Replies...
    kori
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've heard of this from my parents - so I was eventually set up for that challenge too. However, I don't think I'll be as successful as him...

    Load More Comments
    Angel Williams
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The kid doesnt have his *own* social media - but his Mom plasters his face all over hers, even as far back as "327 weeks" ago - thats 6.2 years!

    Eric Mac Fadden
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My son doesn't shows interest on social networks, he just turned 17. He thinks it's dumb.

    Om
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that was me back in the day, before social media exploded, until I was forced to join Facebook because otherwise I was missing announcements some teachers were doing through some of our classmates, who would only post it on a Facebook group instead of making sure everyone knew before leaving school. Same with any time I went out with friends and we would take pictures, god forbid they sent me the pics through email, I had to be on Facebook or I wouldn't get to see anything. Now I'm the only one left on Facebook, while the rest keep jumping from social media to social media every few years.

    Load More Replies...
    kori
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've heard of this from my parents - so I was eventually set up for that challenge too. However, I don't think I'll be as successful as him...

    Load More Comments
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