Posted By: Marlene

Honestly, I’m going to say this and I’m going to say it with respect. I know a lot of people probably won’t like what I’m about to say, but I have to be real about how I feel.

I have a mother, and I know one day she may get older. I don’t know if she will ever have dementia, but I do know this — my mom values her privacy. She hates being on camera now. She doesn’t like people all in her business or looking into her personal life. So if she were ever struggling with something as intimate and heartbreaking as dementia, I would never feel right putting a camera in her face and posting her all over YouTube or social media.

And before anybody twists my words, I’m not saying it’s wrong to care for your parents publicly or share parts of your journey. I understand some people are trying to raise awareness. But there’s a difference between awareness and turning somebody into content.

Sometimes it honestly feels like people can’t wait to pull out a phone every single moment their parent is confused, emotional, or vulnerable just so people can click, watch again, subscribe, and leave comments. Video after video after video. At some point it stops feeling human and starts feeling like somebody’s pain is being used as a social media gimmick.

What really bothers me is this: if those parents were fully healthy and aware, would they truly agree to be shown to millions of strangers in their weakest moments? Some probably would. But I honestly believe most would say no. That’s what hurts me. Because dementia already takes so much away from a person. Their memory. Their independence. Their dignity at times. So why take away their privacy too?

People deserve compassion, especially our parents. They deserve to be protected, not treated like a project for views. Not every painful moment needs to be uploaded for the internet to consume. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but some things should stay sacred.