Like most things, Facebook has its ups and downs. It's the perfect way to stay in touch with old friends and share life updates and photos with your family. But it also serves as a tremendous distraction. Some waste hours scrolling through Facebook's infinite pages, looking through photo upon photo, desperately waiting for a new, tiny red notification symbol to pop up in the top left corner of their screen.
So what's it worth to a father to prevent his daughter from spending her time buried in Facebook and instead buried in schoolbooks? For one dad, it's $200.
Rachel Baier, a 14-year-old high school student from Wellesley, Massachusetts, promised her dad that she would steer clear of Facebook for five months. In return, her father will pay her $200, $50 in April and the additional $150 in June.
To prevent any foul play, her father, Paul Baier has access to Rachel's Facebook account and can change the password to avoid reactivation or log-ins from other computers. Baier, vice president at a Boston energy firm, even posted a photograph of the signed contract on his blog.
It makes sense for a father to try and rid his daughter of distraction during the last few months of school, but in this instance, it was Rachel's idea. "It was her idea," Baier told the Daily Dot. "She wants to earn money and also finds Facebook a distraction and a waste of time sometimes. She plans to go back on after the six months is over."
Will this experiment be used as an example for others? Facebook, according to many users, is the ultimate procrastination tool. Many high schoolers will sit with their eyes glued to their profiles, their laptops rested on top of unopened textbooks. If something should be done, then perhaps a simple little bribe similar to this story may be the key.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
