DC photos online

[GinAndTeaForMe]

What are people's thoughts about uploading their children's photos on to social media?

I have started to dislike other people doing it, and every so often do post something myself, but it is has started to concern me.

What are people's thoughts?

I don't like it but each to their own I suppose.

It's a perfectly reasonable way of sharing what your kids are doing / school achievements etc, particularly with family and friends who aren't nearby.

However, you do have to accept the lack of control you then have. In one sense, it's no different to you sending me a hard copy photo of your kids - you've no idea how I'll use it and then share it. But obviously that's magnified a million times online .... And that's with decent privacy settings.

I think you have to think - is this a "reasonable" photo of my child, would i mind if it were seen by people outwith my immediate circle.

It doesn't really bother me if family members post snaps of my dc on facebook. The photos are not embarrassing or unusual and they're decent and fully dressed and no more exposed than they would be if they were walking down the street and being seen by hundreds of complete strangers and caught on CCTV cameras in every shop they visit.
I don't post them on Flickr though because that makes them more searchable and would come up on Google etc which for some unexplainable reason does seem more of a risk.

My family rarely post photos of my dc though and I don't post their lives on there - I only upload pics of them every so often. I also don't post personal info about them or things that might cause others to laugh at them iyswim because I do try to respect their privacy. When posting a photo or anecdote I tend to think about whether I'd be happy about it being shared if it were of or about me.

Why has it 'started to concern' you?

There was an article or tv segment about this recently actually asking 14 year old (is) school children how they felt about childhood pics being posted and most were mortified and angry about not having a choice as well as the all the possibilities to be made fun of by friends who saw them.

I love posting pics of my DD (with her consent) and seeing those posted by family and friends. I couldn't care less.

14 yo are permanently mortified by their parents, especially when the baby pics come out. Suck it up, snowflakes. (Or get revenge by posting pics of your parents pissed and snoring on Xmas Day... )

My social media is very secure. I'm not one of those that has 3765 "friends" on FB and even the friends I do have on there are categorised into FB groups - close friends/family/ex colleagues/etc, and so certain posts won't show up if I choose to show only to certain groups.

My DS (13) actually dislikes us posting stuff about him on social media so we generally don't unless it's a family photo or something, he doesn't mind that.

I post photos on my social media and the only person I have ever asked not too is a cousin of DH's who has over 5000 'friends' and absolutely zero security settings and, more importantly, no sense of 'that pic shouldn't be online'.

I personally don't like it, the odd photo fine, 10 a day is much. I have only put 4 pictures of my 10mo online and I actively ask people to not post her pictures at groups and days out

But you said you do it yourself?
What are you concerned about? And what do you dislike about other people doing it?

Always think before you post. Your teenager will not thank you for pictures of them on their potty all over the web. But just sticking up a few pictures - can't see any problem with it.

I post every now and then. Used to be a lot more but I've become quieter on social media in general over the past couple of years. I don't mind family and friends sharing photos of my dc.

I put up the occasional picture of 5 year old DD, e.g. of us all on holiday. But I would never put up a picture of her in swimwear/underwear or doing something potentially embarrassing (like having a tantrum or picking her nose).

I personally think that the odd photo is ok but I just don't think it's right to share every moment of your DCs life on social media.

Things that are cute and funny now could be hugely embarrassing for them later. Sharing photos of DC when they are sleeping or ill or potty training is just intrusive and I can't think many adults would be happy for others to share photos of themselves in these situations without their consent.

When it comes to talking to DCs about their use of social media, it is a bit hypocritical to lecture them about what they online if you have already posted their entire life story on social media.

Each to their own I think OP.

I wouldn't dream of it.

I do not and never have used FB. I know some are very careful about security when using it but a lot of people seem to live their whole lives online, recording every minutiae and I wonder if they will ever come to regret it? It seems once it's on the internet it will pretty much be there forever.

I don't put them up but my children are adopted so there's a good reason I don't want them on there. But I think if they weren't I still wouldn't post loads. Maybe the odd family shot on a special occasion but otherwise there's no reason to put them on there. Anyone close enough to be interested in them can see photos another way, no need for them to be in the public domain.