When her father told her she could earn herself $200 for quitting Facebook, Rachel Baier's only question was where to sign.
By so signing, the 14-year-old Rachel was contractually obligated by her father Paul to cease from signing onto her Facebook account for five months. Just to make sure Rachel was true to her word, Paul drew up legal documentation.
According to the contract signed by both Paul and Rachel:
- Rachel will receive $50 if she can stop using Facebook until mid-April
- She will receive the other $150 if she can stop until June 26 (the last day of school)
- Paul was given Rachel's Facebook password, which he changed to ensure Rachel would not be able to log in
Rachel will be using the $200 - should she be able to make it through the next five months successfully - for "stuff," according to what can be seen in the contract signed.
"She mostly wanted and needed the money as she has been frustrated by not finding babysitting jobs," Paul told Yahoo! News of his daughter Rachel's abnegation. "She is an honors student but she says Facebook can be distracting."
Initially, Rachel suggested a remuneration of $70 for the halting of her Facebook activity, but then came back with the increased price of $200 when "she realized it would be for five months," wanting "an amount that would really excite her," Paul said.
Though Paul made no comment about how he intends to keep Rachel from accessing Facebook through her friends' pages and neglected to detail specific information (aside from hyperbole) about how much time his daughter normally spends online, he did state that he hopes the concept catches on amongst other young people.
"I've realized that [Rachel] is part of a generation of kids that has grown up on Facebook," said Paul.
"She's been on it for two years full time. This is two years of 24/7 teen discussion of friends, clothes, parties, etc. They can't get away from it. I'm proud she recognized the benefit of a hiatus. She plans to go on using it after the contract ends."
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