Anonymums on internet

Coffee mornings and mother’s meetings have taken a back seat these days thanks to the rise of the internet.
Social networking and online communities are a big part of modern motherhood, with parents using them to chat about sensitive matters.

The research ‘Keeping Mums Connected’ conducted by Post Office Broadband, showed that the average mum chats to 24 online friends they have never met in person.

In the South West, just 6 per cent of mums used chat rooms and forums. The North West used them marginally more at 9 per cent, but this is nothing compared to the net busy 26 per cent of web chatters in the West Midlands. The South West was also the lowest users of instant messaging.

The increasing numbers of mums turning to the net for help has led to the coining of the word ‘anonymums’, meaning mothers who can chat openly about sensitive matters using the convenience of the internet.

From parenting club Bounty, Faye Mingo said: “Online social networks and forums offer mums an anonymity that allows them to be candid and frank about the challenges of motherhood without fear of condemnation or embarrassment.

“Motherhood can be a daunting prospect and women have always been dependent on friends and family to provide a support network.

“Now we’re seeing these circles of influence grow as women share their problems and experiences with people in the same situation – from choosing baby names to coping with post-natal depression, women are finding additional support and advice thanks to the internet.”