Are adoptive parents allowed to do this? Privacy concerns...

[MowldyStupidAndAssive]

I'm in a Facebook parenting group that has about 5k members. It's not an adoption support group, just a general parenting group, and although it's a private group and the rules ban screenshots this is obviously not enforceable in any way.

There is a member who has an adoptive child, not a baby/toddler, an older child. This member posts about the child most days, including lots of photos.

So now everyone in the group knows the child's name (both full and shortened version, and the reason the child only uses the shortened version), that they were adopted and roughly how long ago, roughly where they live, the dates/locations/reasons for some of their medical appointments, details of the child's educational issues and disabilities, the school the child goes to... The list goes on!

Is this allowed? I was really surprised to see the level of detail they post (way more than I would dream of posting about my birth children tbh) and can hardly believe it's ok to do so with an adoptive child

I have, on occasion, posted about my children on FB. Birthdays, special occasions, or just because I am proud of something that they have done. I very rarely post on Social media but I would never refer to them as my own children and my adopted children. Would you have given the parent a second thought if the post was about her own child? I doubt it. Own children are of no interest to anyone else. Once you mention that the child is adopted she or he suddenly becomes everybody’s concern. My children are my children whether they grew in my tummy or my heart. I agree with most posters that some people need to know my children’s backgrounds on a need to know basis. Most people don’t need to know details. My now grown up children each know their circumstances and it is their story to tell if they ever feel the need to.

What makes you think the child in your post is at risk so much that you need to become involved? Do you know the circumstances of the child’s adoption and past history?

I think there is a difference between posting the odd birthday post or whatever on a locked down Facebook page that only friends can see and posting stuff in a FB Group the 5000 current members can see and who knows how many people will be able to access it in 10-20 years time.

I honestly don't think its right from a childs privacy point for their medical details or behavioural issues to be that public regardless of adoption, stepchild, natural child. Children deserve the same privacy as adults.

How do we think the children will feel if they happen to come across those posts themselves as adults?