Video of US mother shaming daughter on Facebook sparks parenting debate

After single mum Valerie Starks discovered her 13-year-old daughter's racy Facebook page, she made and posted the video which shows her scolding the teenager in a 5 1/2 minute tirade. -- PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM FACEBOOK
After single mum Valerie Starks discovered her 13-year-old daughter's racy Facebook page, she made and posted the video which shows her scolding the teenager in a 5 1/2 minute tirade. -- PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM FACEBOOK

A video of a mother berating her teenage daughter on a sidewalk has attracted national attention in the United States, and sparked a debate about her parenting style.

After single mum Valerie Starks discovered her 13-year-old daughter's racy Facebook page, she made and posted the video which shows her scolding the teenager in a 5 1/2 minute tirade.

"You're 13, so why does your Facebook page say you're 19?" Ms Starks asks her daughter, who soon starts crying. "You've got a Facebook page, and you're on there with your bra on, right? Is that what you do?"

Later, Ms Starks makes her daughter say she still watches Disney Channel, has a bedtime and will spend her summer reading books. She warns older men to stay away from her daughter, then makes her daughter bid farewell to Facebook.

The clip has garnered more than 12 million views on Facebook since it was posted on May 18.

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ATTN ALL PARENTS PLEASE WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO A GROWN ASS 13 YEAR OLD... MY CHILD

Posted by Val HairLyfe Starks on Sunday, 17 May 2015

Supporters on Facebook such as Tristen Lee Morris commented: "Wow. Great job mama bear. Woooohooo."

But detractors said Ms Starks was being too harsh on her daughter and disagreed with the public shaming.

Beverly Palomino said: "There are other ways of taking care of your daughter instead of humiliating her, embarrassing her. Shame on you mother. I know you trying to protect your daughter but at the same time it can lead to something very bad."

Ms Starks told CNN that her daughter has done this before and she took away her phone and tablet last year, but this time she decided that she had to teach her a lesson. She said she explained to her daughter why she made the video, CNN reported.

"She's not mad at me, her friends are not bullying her at school, she's ok, and that's what I want parents to understand," she said.

Ms Starks also said she is a convicted felon for hanging around "the wrong people", and that she does not want her daughter to repeat her mistakes.

chuimin@sph.com.sg

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