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Original poster

Do you post your kids pictures on social media?

152 replies

golden547 · 15/10/2022 23:55

I'm having a baby really soon and have had comments from people saying they can't wait to see pictures on my social media, but I'm unsure if I actually want to post my child's pictures online. There's just something about it that makes me feel uneasy.

Do you post pics of your kids? If not, why?

OP posts:
Leakingroofagain · 16/10/2022 09:09

I used to but only with their face obscured, but now I never do. I just don't think it's my image to 'own' and certainly not mine to transfer ownership to mark Zuckerberg or whoever.

blusteryshowersaway · 16/10/2022 09:10

No I don’t. And I genuinely don’t understand why you would.

abitunsureaboutthis · 16/10/2022 09:11

TescoCustomerService · 16/10/2022 00:01

I never post pictures and don't allow anyone else to. If I want a family member/members/friends to see a picture, I'll send it to them privately and individually.

We do this, too. It is an autonomy and safety thing.

(Doesn't stop our family sharing pics of baby with all their friends, colleagues and family, but at least we try to do the right thing. We try not to be overly militant about it.)

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SunnyNights · 16/10/2022 09:11

These replies are very opposite to what I see in real life though. I am very much in the minority on not posting images of our children on social platforms. I have been questioned about it quite a few times by family and friends. I don't get into it and just reiterate that I don't want their images online until they decide.

SuperlativeOxymoron · 16/10/2022 09:12

I do, but very sparsely and usually only on Instagram as I've got it set to private and only family and close friends follow me.

Facebook, maybe 1 or 2 photos a year and mainly group shots.

I can't explain why I don't post his pictures often, other than the fact that I don't actually post any photos very often. I use social media more to browse than share.

I've got a couple of friends who are extreme opposites:
One refuses to post anything, they won't even post a photo where even a portion of their children are in the frame.
Another does what she calls a photo dump every few months and will upload every single photo on her phone to Facebook, so she can clear her phones memory.

I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer here.

Sids81 · 16/10/2022 09:12

I haven't and don't allow anyone else to. I have even taken off photos of myself, friends and family due to respect of privacy. I don't want strangers or "friends" who I only speak to online seeing my child. I have had comments of "I want to see your baby" why? If you want to see my baby you will be a real friend and see them in person.
I have some old friends from school on social media and I know what their children had for breakfast. I live near a school and I know who's child is who's just from photos online which I don't think is right. I would hate someone I don't really know to look at my child and know everything about them. Out of respect for my child I shall not be putting her image online for others to "like".

Afterfire · 16/10/2022 09:13

Just for balance….

There was a story recently where a head teacher was found guilty of being a paedophile and downloading horrible images etc. Some of the images he had taken photos of pupils from the school he worked at (ie sports day photos / etc) and super imposed these on top of the abusive images. I mean that’s absolutely dreadful but in a way it goes to show that you can do everything you can to try and prevent these things but actually even the most innocent of things - a normal head and shoulders shot taken for school purposes - can be used like this. In some ways that’s why I don’t worry so much, I enjoy sharing pics between friends and family with high privacy settings and I think if something horrible is going to be shared / used then chances are it will anyway.

mondaytosunday · 16/10/2022 09:13

I do on my FB page, but it's private and only my 'friends' can see it, which is about 25 actual friends/family, and about five people (mostly school gate mums) I have no idea why I accepted friends requests from but feels a bit weird to unfriend them now (and I do like seeing their posts in a gossipy way).

RedToothBrush · 16/10/2022 09:14

No.

Ive seen Facebook used inappropriately far too often, including on closed profiles. Plus lots of people I know don't understand privacy settings properly anyway.

You need to be fully aware of the friends of friends feature and who can see posts when you reply to others...

Lack of understanding of social media is frightening.

SarahR2022 · 16/10/2022 09:16

I dont have social media at all....and Id be encouraging my kids to steer clear....mumsnet is about as close to it as I get....and as for postimg amything about myself or my kids on a platform thats visible to the whole world....fuck that....you need to grow up and delete your SM account

JPduck · 16/10/2022 09:17

We only post pictures that don't show her face. We get some nice creative photos

Rattlethestars · 16/10/2022 09:17

No we don't. We are quite private and rarely post anything on social media. I'm only on FB and Instagram for groups or hobby related things.
I wouldn't have wanted my photo all over SM growing up so I won't do it to my kids. Thankfully, none of our families use social media so no worries about them putting anything up.

I just wouldn't feel comfortable putting loads of photos of my kids online.

SallyWD · 16/10/2022 09:18

Yes I do but not very often. Once a month or so. They're now 12 and 9 and I'll always check with them first. Often they ask me to put particular photos of them on Facebook!

Cwcwbird · 16/10/2022 09:20

To be fair to the people that do share photos of their kids - there are loads of instagrammers who do this on public accounts, some with millions of followers. It normalises it.

I actually can't believe how unregulated it is, given the very good points made on here about sharing kids photos.

sandytooth · 16/10/2022 09:20

If you don't want to then don't. It's a personal choice and anyone who judges you for it is out of order.

SarahR2022 · 16/10/2022 09:20

SallyWD · 16/10/2022 09:18

Yes I do but not very often. Once a month or so. They're now 12 and 9 and I'll always check with them first. Often they ask me to put particular photos of them on Facebook!

How did you check with them before they were able to decide for themselves? Its a complete invasion of their privacy if you ask me....

Lcb123 · 16/10/2022 09:21

I don’t have kids but I know I would only post pics occasionally and on private social media. It’s not fair to post a lot, when the child can’t consent to it. Just send WhatsApp to your family and friends

Tulipomania · 16/10/2022 09:23

When they were small, yes, but I have a small network and max privacy settings.

Also only in the context of holidays, family events, birthdays etc. I would never post a pic of DC because they are 'cute' because that is just cringe IMHO.

Now they are older I only post with their permission, which is usually conditional on them not being tagged!

jellybe · 16/10/2022 09:24

Now and again, but very rarely and my FB is locked down.

I don't at all on my Instagram as that is open.

Family don't post pics of them with out asking us first. As they have got older we do it less and now with our teenager we don't at all without asking them first and letting them approve the picture.

sandytooth · 16/10/2022 09:28

I don't think many people use Facebook for photos anymore it's all about the insta or ticktock

BettyOBarley · 16/10/2022 09:29

Not any more, but then I don't post anything on social media anymore (just keep FB for groups/local events etc).

Someone once shared a picture of my kids on FB and I couldn't see who it was, really put me off.

KitchenSupper · 16/10/2022 09:30

No, never have. They can’t consent to it and it’s naïve to think good privacy settings are enough.
Very few people I know do.

MugginsOverEre · 16/10/2022 09:30

I do but there's nothing more special about my child or another random kid. There are photos of children everywhere. Mine often appear in the local village paper doing various village stuff along with any group they're in, or they're on their school's websites, social medias or in print publications. Unless I had a specific issue (such as hiding from an ex or being NC with a parent etc, I'm not bothered if people on my friends list see images of my kids. My kids are always playing out in public so it's not like they're hidden away from anyones view.

Tansytea · 16/10/2022 09:40

Not at all. As far as I know there is not a single photo of my kids on social media. We have most of our family abroad. I send emails and for my parents sometimes also physical photos.
@MugginsOverEre mentions their school's websites, social medias or print publications, but I don't give my permission for that, and where l live you cannot publish a photo of a child without permission.

StClare101 · 16/10/2022 09:42

I have a small friends and family FB/Instagram friends list. Even so I stopped posting there about a year ago. My parents and sister are on a WhatsApp with us and we share pictures and updates of all the grandkids that way.