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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask why people post pictures of their poorly children on social media?

78 replies

JokersRus · 16/11/2018 12:32

Why?? Especially the children who end up in ambulances and/or hooked up to wires etc. I just don't understand it. I can understand maybe a picture to keep privately but why does it have to be plastered all over SM??

I don't like seeing kids in pain or suffering, especially when I've watched mine go through some awful things and the last thing I want to do, is post their distress over the net for likes and comments. It always seems to be the people that document every part of their life. Why????

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 16/11/2018 12:33

Yes strange behaviour
And that picture is there for life

It's a shame for the kids and they need a voice as well

jq28 · 16/11/2018 12:36

I agree it's weird. Also pics of kids on potties it's so unnecessary.

petbear · 16/11/2018 12:38

No-one on my social media has ever done that tbh.

Maybe you need to get different friends.

petbear · 16/11/2018 12:39

And they must be your friends, otherwise why are you seeing the posts? Wink

RomanyRoots · 16/11/2018 12:40

I think any pics on social media are wrong unless you have the persons permission.
I can see a generation being right pissed off with their parents for doing this.
I'm lucky my dc were older when fb came out and under no circumstances did they want me posting pictures of them and talking about them.
We have sent family pics and messenger, rather than show any Tom, Dick or harry.

SilverLining10 · 16/11/2018 12:41

Yanbu it's so attention seeking. I'm on 'Mothers group' on fb where they do this. Also they post pictures of their kids asking everyone to wish them happy birthday. It is so desperate and embarrassing.

MrDonut · 16/11/2018 12:47

I remember a friend posted daily chicken pox updates, but I think that was more for the benefit of her mum and sister.

Another friend took a photo of her daughter sitting on a hospital bed crying hysterically while the friend was hugging her with a strange serene expression on her face. It was so odd, because it wasn't just a quick snap of her daughter, she must have posed and asked her husband to take a photo.

My kids love taking photos of their injuries and illnesses though. I don't share them on SM. Like they'll be crying and blood everywhere and they'll be like, quick take a photo so I can zoom in on the gore and see it properly.

Rachelover40 · 16/11/2018 12:49

I agree with you, illustrates the down side of social media.

I've no objection to the cancer charity using kids in their adverts though, the dear little boy singing "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" with the doctor and then seeing him later, better was very heartening; little baby girl hooked up to iv, having a bath while her mum sings, "Row your boat", aways reduced me to tears.

BunsOfAnarchy · 16/11/2018 12:51

Ive had people on FB check into A&E with zero explanation, cue the 'hun' comments.

But ive never seen anyone with photos of children unwell in hospital or hooked up to wires etc (bar a friend who uploaded a pic of her baby who was born 9 weeks early but she stressed he was doing fine and it was a birth announcement)

YANBU. But u need new friends lol

BumsexAtTheBingo · 16/11/2018 12:51

Because they are absolute arseholes and crave the attention of the sad faces and comments. The last thing I’d want if I was ill would be someone taking photos of me.

Thehop · 16/11/2018 12:53

Attention. It’s awful

Creepyexgirlfriend · 16/11/2018 12:57

Sign of low IQ

FrogOfFrogHall · 16/11/2018 13:00

I put a couple of pics of my son up when he was born and was in NICU. They were sick baby pics of a child in intensive care but they were also my newborn baby pics of DS. I thought he was beautiful and wanted to share him with the world. Its only now years down the line that I really notice the wires and tubes. When he's been in hospital since then I haven't shared pics as it does feel a bit intrusive on his privacy, although it doesn't annoy me if other people share pics of their kids when sick. But hey I must be an arsehole according to everyone on here!

SerenDippitty · 16/11/2018 13:05

Ive had people on FB check into A&E with zero explanation, cue the 'hun' comments.
The checking into hospital ones are well weird. GP sent me to the surgical assessment unit at my local hospital to get an abscess drained a couple of months back. Never crossed my mind to put anything on Facebook.

JokersRus · 16/11/2018 13:07

Not friends, just people I follow from school etc but I got rid of a lot of them. I was having a conversation with my work colleagues and she was saying the same thing, she gets it on her feed too.

OP posts:
Creepyexgirlfriend · 16/11/2018 13:08

I think that’s different Frog, those were pictures of your newborn.

catx1606 · 16/11/2018 13:09

I do see some pics of poorly children but the thing I see a lot of are people checking either themselves or their children into hospital, making a status about feeling really nervous and no one has a clue why they're there, cue loads of comments asking what's wrong, a response from the OP saying why they're there, cue many more sympathy messages, then a comment or status thanking everyone for their support knowing fully well, they only got those messages because they asked for them. Worse is when said OP checks in then says they'll PM anyone that asks. It's blatant attention seeking which I tend to ignore

Zucker · 16/11/2018 13:11

For attention. It triggers sympathy for the parent posts.

Graceadlerdesigns · 16/11/2018 13:12

My DD recently broke a bone and it was horrific (she is very young and we didn't know immediately what was wrong). I forced myself to take a pic in hospital of her- purely because she will have no memory of it and may want to ask about it she she is older. She looks happy enough in the photo but I kinda hate it. No way in hell would I put it on social media. In fact, we haven't even posted anything about her accident online. The people who need to know, know.

So yeah. YADNBU

DarkDarkNight · 16/11/2018 13:12

Attention seeking, pure and simple.

I know a few people who do this: ‘Another night in Children’s ward for me...’ bizarre behaviour.

CookPassBabtridge · 16/11/2018 13:14

How judgey of you. It's about sharing with friends and getting support.

NoLeslie · 16/11/2018 13:19

Because they are worried, scared, lonely, freaking out? Because they want others to know about illnesses? I don't post pics of my DC because they don't want me to. Doesn't mean those that do are thick etc etc. Have a bit of empathy.

TheChickenOfTruth · 16/11/2018 13:26

I've checked in at the hospital before - with a quick note that I'm sick and I'm going to be waiting a few hours and asking for people to entertain me. Struggled to explain what was wrong because I didn't know... And neither did any of the doctors until mid-surgery. I really did just want some people to talk to. Wouldn't put up photos of my son looking awful though, unless I thought it could help other people (when people do it for awareness of unusual conditions for example, I'm grateful to have that bit of extra knowledge just in case).

Mia1415 · 16/11/2018 13:34

How judgey of you. It's about sharing with friends and getting support.

This! Being in hospital as a single mum with a poorly child I've posted pictures of my DS before. I gain comfort from friends messages of support (and practical offers of help).

Its my facebook, I'm posting only to my friends and its the quickest way to update people.

Don't judge people in their darkest and scariest moments. Everyone copes differently.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 16/11/2018 13:40

In a way some hopsital ones can understand

Saying that someone on mine posted a picture of their child after they cracked their head open. That seemed a bit odd as was before the stitches so still had the cut and all. How that thought process happened who knows.
Also don't get when it's a picture of a child in bed and ooo so and so has a sick bug etc.