Social media has completely changed the adoption world and how others connect with one another. As it grows in popularity by the minute, social media is a game changer for those in any role of an adoption journey. For hopeful adoptive parents, social media may be the way through which they are matched with a birth mother. For an adoptee or birth parent, social media may be the avenue through which they are reunited. Social media plays many different roles for each member of the adoption triad.
Social media can make the adoption journey considerably different for birth parents and adoptive parents alike. From the beginning of this journey, birth parents can use social media to gather information about placement. Many adoption agencies will often have a presence on social media. It is here that birth parents may be able to view information, ask questions, or even seek out assistance for placing their child. Adoptive parents will also be able to view information about agencies.
Additionally both adoptive and birth parents will have access to a multitude of adoption groups and pages geared toward creating a community with those who have been through or are going through the adoption journey. These groups can be vital in getting questions and answered or when needing advice. The I Love Adoption Facebook group is one such group that provides this type of community and resources about adoption.
Birth parents may also utilize social media to search for prospective adoptive parents for their child. Adoptive parents often use social media to spread the word that they are hoping to adopt. Adoption.com often shares profiles of hopeful adoptive parents on its social media. Birth parents can reach out to these parents for more information directly from social media. Prospective adoptive parents can use social media as a way to let others know that they are hoping to adopt. Simple shares of this information may lead to a parent hoping to place their child learning of the hopeful adoptive parent and possibly matching with them for placement.
Open adoption and the options it provides has been completely transformed by social media. Letters and possibly email correspondence were previously some of the only ways to support open adoption plans. Now, depending on the terms of the open adoption, birth and adoptive families will often use social media not only to communicate but to allow for updates regarding the child. Some birth parents will be able to see daily pictures and updates about their child through the wonders of social media. It makes adopting easier than ever.
Social media has been a treasure for those seeking information about their families in a closed adoption. Reunions have happened simply due to shares on social media. There are whole groups dedicated to reuniting adoptees with birth parents and vice versa. Social media is a great place to start an adoption search and can be incredibly fruitful if enough information is available. The use of social media is often found invaluable in almost every stage of the adoption journey and will only grow more useful in years to come.
