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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think naked pics of your kids on social media is a no-no?

62 replies

Bellerina2 · 29/01/2015 16:42

One of my oldest friends has a lovely little girl aged just over 3. She's always posting cute photos of her on Facebook but this past week she's posted two of her daughter naked that are from her Instagram account. Is it just me who thinks that perhaps that's not a great idea? Especially when her Instagram account isn't private.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 30/01/2015 01:17

I really used to think there was no issue with this, especially if sharing to friends only.

However my eyes were opened last year to the prevalence of some very suspect/shady groups on facebook sharing inappropriate images :( Because of the way facebook reporting works if the images are shared in private groups and nobody in the group reports the image, the group/images will stay active for a long time. Facebook don't generally care. It's only when something reaches the attention of the law or a lot of people that they take action.

While I agree that an innocent family photograph of a child who happens to be naked is innocent, I would not want to find that my photograph had been distributed in such a group and hence I now am incredibly careful what I put on there.

Bettybodybooboo · 30/01/2015 01:17

Baby guessing by your post that you don't have teenagers?

No one is looking at these pictures as sexual? Don't be a siliy billy!

However no teenager I know, and I have had 4 would thank their parents for putting naked pics of their toddler bodies online that could be used to embaressed them as they get older.

Seriously you can't see that?

Op I would point this out to your friend. She probably hasn't thought it through.

ChippingInLatteLover · 30/01/2015 01:22

Is that clear enough for you wheresthelight or would you prefer it in some sort of interpretive dance to help you comprehend?

Grin
Redglitter · 30/01/2015 01:47

My niece is at an age where she's starting to be interested in boys and aware of her body. I don't think she'd appreciate her school friends seeing pictures of her naked as a child.

It's nothing to do with inappropriate use its thinking of the child's feelings.

EBearhug · 30/01/2015 02:01

Why is it none of the OP's business? This is her friend. If she's actively chosen to have all her security settings world-readable, then fair enough, but many people just accept the defaults without question and without understanding what the possible consequences of that choice is. I don't think it's unreasonable for a friend to say, "did you know your photos can be seen by anyone on the internet? Have you thought about changing your security settings?" It might be something they just don't know how to do - if they really don't care, then you probably have to leave them to it, but at least you'll have tried, and it could be they'll find it useful.

I would approach it as a general security point, rather than specifically about naked photos, because it is a valid point regardless of the subject matter.

TheNewStatesman · 30/01/2015 02:12

I think it's dodgy. The general rule should be, would I be comfortable with someone putting a picture of me out in public like this?

Original poster
Bellerina2 · 30/01/2015 06:04

Would you like a ladder to help you down off your high horse Babycham? This isn't about sex - when did I say the images were sexual?

Yeah, I imagine Obama wouldn't be too concerned by naked childhood snaps. But he's the most powerful man in the western world. An 11 or 12 year old just starting high school might feel differently...

OP posts:
Storm15 · 30/01/2015 08:04

I think it's fine for babies and toddlers. I'd be uncomfortable with it for school age children.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/01/2015 08:07

YANbU at all, totally inappropriate, and putting her daughter out there for all to see. I would hit the report button.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/01/2015 08:11

I hope she has her security settings on maximum.

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 30/01/2015 08:17

It's a stupid thing to do.
And there ARE paedophile gangs who collect and share these 'innocent' pics, that's been well documented.

There's a difference between a photo of 2 year old little Jonquil in the bath in the family album on the coffee table, to one posted on the internet for all to see.

SnowWhiteAteTheApple · 30/01/2015 08:19

Totally inappropriate, a bath one covered in bubbles fine but fully naked is a huge no.

On a recent safeguarding course we were told it's illegal to hold an imagine showing private parts and illegal to share that image. There was no mention of the law relaxing that stance for babies and toddlers but it would be an interesting question to ask.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 30/01/2015 08:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 30/01/2015 08:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/01/2015 08:31

Some parents are total idiots, it is one thing to have a picture of your child in a private family album, or on your bookcase, another to put them on the worldwide web for all and Saundry to see. Privacy settings are not that watertight.

MrsMaker83 · 30/01/2015 09:08

It is stupid and irresponsible behaviour as a parent, privacy settings on or not.

A cute bath photo with private areas covered, or wearing only a nappy is one thing, completely naked is another.

I wonder what goes through some peoples minds. Someone i know thought it was hilarious that her kid missed the potty and posted a picture of a big pile of poo on the carpet Confused what the actual fuck?!

Greenkit · 30/01/2015 09:42

If it is a full body shot, showing private areas, it could be classed as distributing indecent images

Latara · 30/01/2015 09:47

I have colleagues who share photos of their children at bathtime on Facebook when they are naked - what I would like to know is, would my colleagues want people sharing naked pics of THEM without their consent?

I bet they wouldn't!

OneFlewOverTheDodosNest · 30/01/2015 09:50

I think it's an issue. I was a teenager before social media days (thanks goodness) but my parents had a photo of me in the bath with my sister in the living room - she was a baby but I was 4/5 and I hated that photo. I used to hide it and my mum would tell me off for "being silly" but it was excruciatingly embarrassing for me when friends came round.

Now I see it as just a nice childhood photo but I wish my mum had respected my wishes when I was younger and saved me the humiliation. If I'd had to contend with something like that on Facebook then I can only imagine how much worse it would have been.

SardineQueen · 30/01/2015 09:55

It is not illegal for me to have a photo of my child naked. It is not illegal for me to have a photo of my husband naked!

Just saying.

Also that there are plenty of legal magazines and things showing naked people.

I think your course must have been more specific than you put in your post surely!

Greenkit · 30/01/2015 09:57

But it is illegal for you to distribute those pictures of your (Naked) children online.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 30/01/2015 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ghostyslovesheep · 30/01/2015 10:01

it's not illegal

not unless they are in 'erotic poses' - naked kids in the bath playing with bubbles or on the beach making sand castles are not classed as 'erotic' images of kids

Bluetonic123 · 30/01/2015 10:03

I have a friend that does this and I think it's a bit odd. I don't think I'd like it if my naked baby pictures were on the Internet.

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