There seem to be a thousand or more things to do to prepare for a new baby to come home. And while nine months seems like an eternity for a pregnant mom, the time really goes quickly with so much to prepare for.
From setting up the nursery to stocking up on diapers to picking out a name, there is much to think about.
But in our world of tech-savvy parenting, there is one thing that probably never occurred to you – and it is one thing that some new parents insist on purchasing.
As more and more children come of age and begin to delve into the world of technology with their own cell phones and email addresses, it seems some parents are thinking ahead – by purchasing website domains for them when they are born.
But why do some parents choose to take such an interesting step so far ahead of time?
Forbes.com reported:
Domain names are pulling a significant financial weight, moreso these days than ever before.
Warren Adelman, president of GoDaddy.com told USA Today, “It is the starting point for your online identity.”
Claiming a name online today is growing harder and harder as available URL’s keep disappearing. By the time your child has grown to be a teenager or even just reached preschool, that name could be gone. Creating a site to establish an identity afterward will be all the more difficult, with combinations of first, middle, and last names being used.
Parents today are catching on to the trend and buying the names before they’re gone. The purchase of a site URL also serves as a valuable investment- an inexpensive buy for children to later inherit.
Parents who purchase domain names for their young children assume that we will be using the same technologies in the future as we are now.
But what if we aren’t and what if their children don’t find a use for them later?
Fox News reported:
There’s no guarantee, though, that domain names will have as central a role in online identity. After all, with search engines getting smarter, Internet users can simply type the name of a person into Google.
“Given the pace of change on the Internet, it strikes me as a pretty impressive leap of faith that we’re going to use exactly the same system and the same tools … 15 to 20 years from today,” said Peter Grunwald, whose Grunwald Associates firm specializes in researching kids and technology.
But domain names are inexpensive, and some parents feel the roughly $10 per year fee is well worth it for securing what they feel is an important tool for the future. If they don’t use it, not much was invested in the long term.
Other parents are finding this trendy purchase is useful now, using the domains to share photos and videos of their little ones for family and friends or to promote their talents online.
The idea is even being hailed as a way for potential colleges or employers to easily access and view videos of performances and other achievements to gain more insight on someone’s skills and reputation.
Critics say this idea is just another fad for the “kid who has everything.” And anyone can access these domains with a Google search, so they point to the need for safety measures when setting up the sites.
It is also worth asking how far we are willing to go as parents to give our children the “latest and greatest.” Just like almost every teen has a cell phone, it appears many will soon have their own websites.
It seems this new trend may be a bit of overkill, and it remains to be seen if it even stands the test of time. Perhaps a better use of the money would be to buy a few classic books that will never go out of style.
Forbes provided a quote by Richard L. Evans that may be wise for parents to consider:
“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”
What do you think of this new trend? Would you purchase a domain name for your newborn or young child?
Let us know in the comment section.