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Original poster

Do you post pictures of your children on social media?

252 replies

Leefygreen · 09/04/2019 19:28

I use social media quite a lot, I've been posting pictures of DC since I started to use facebook and then instagram so when my oldest was around 4 and there's pictures of my other children from birth to now. It's nice to have them there to look back on but I do wonder sometimes whether I should, I find some of my own childhood pictures a bit embarrasing. My DC aren't too bothered by it, youngest is too young understand, middle one couldn't care less, my oldest is a teenager now so she cares a little more and I ask her permission before posting anything of her. Most people I know also post pictures of their DC regularly, I only know a couple who don't at all

OP posts:
MyGastIsFlabbered · 09/04/2019 19:55

Whenever I take pictures of DCs they ask me to put them on FB. If they ever stop I will.

MaverickSnoopy · 09/04/2019 19:55

No. Controversial in our family and friendship group and we're the only ones who don't. Our children can't consent and we don't know how the photos or data will be used in the future. We want to give them their privacy. We also have an "exiled" family member who we don't want in receipt of photos and we know photos could be passed on. Most people don't get it and people have fallen out with us when we've asked them to take pictures down in the past (despite them being aware of our feelings).

2rachtint · 09/04/2019 19:55

Yes, but nothing at all embarrassing. When they are older if they ask me to stop, I will.

Soubriquet · 09/04/2019 19:56

Yes I do

However my account is private and locked down as tightly as I can.

My 6 year old knows and wants me to do it too but as soon as she tells me no more, I won’t.

Same to my ds though at 4 all he cares about is food

I also don’t post any photos that can be embarrassing (photos on the potty for example)

Camomila · 09/04/2019 19:56

Yes, but only 'nice' ones like I would for an adult.
I don't often post photos of him by himself, when I post photos on facebook it's usually of a day out/party and it would be wierder to leave him out of the group shot imo.

DaftQuery · 09/04/2019 19:56

It's just as easy to email them but of course there'll be no likes and love hearts that way.

Not if you then have to write a separate email for each!

I did, until last year (age7ish). Now I don't so much. Sometimes I post a picture of an achievement where you can't see their faces. (More as a diary for me so I know what they did when) However, I only have people I know in real life on Facebook, not random acquaintances.

CoffeeConnoisseur · 09/04/2019 19:59

No, my teens have vehemently requested that I don’t, since about age 11/12. Occasionally they consent to a big family photo (at a wedding for example) but they won’t let me put individual pictures of them up on Facebook.

As a PP said, if you think about it and are genuinely honest with yourself you’re doing it for the “likes” and nothing more, it’s bullshit to say it’s just for family - if that was the reason - you can do that without putting pictures up on social media.

SimonJT · 09/04/2019 19:59

Only from behind/when his face isn’t showing.

CottonSock · 09/04/2019 20:00

Occasionally I do, usually a family shot. Rest go in a private group for grandparents and aunties

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 09/04/2019 20:00

No I don’t. I use 23 Snaps to share with family who don’t live nearby or send a direct message.

If they choose to use photos I have taken of them as children on their own social media platforms when they are older than that’s up to them but I don’t want to make that decision for them.

Blueroses99 · 09/04/2019 20:00

*And I'm sorry but I've never believed anyone who says they post their kid's images on SM for family members.

It's just as easy to email them but of course there'll be no likes and love hearts that way.*

My husband and I have enormous families scattered all around the world. I don’t have everyone’s email address or phone number for WhatsApp etc, and to send them that way would actually feel very attention seeking. I’m sorry you don’t believe people use SM to keep in touch with family but it’s true for me. I love knowing that the family are “seeing” DD growing up, especially as she has been unable to travel.

WorraLiberty · 09/04/2019 20:01

Of course you don't have to write a separate email for each

One email, with one update, BCC everyone in...

annikin · 09/04/2019 20:02

I do, but only since they've been old enough to preview the photos and consent to them being posted.

WorraLiberty · 09/04/2019 20:03

My husband and I have enormous families scattered all around the world. I don’t have everyone’s email address or phone number for WhatsApp etc

If it was that important to them to see images of your children, they'd make sure you had their contact details.

Ohhellothereladyface · 09/04/2019 20:04

No, I never have. Deleted my Facebook account a few years ago, regardless I feel uncomfortable with the idea of photos of DD being online and I dislike the idea of her having a digital footprint that she didn’t create.

WorraLiberty · 09/04/2019 20:06

And with regards to consent, how many children truly understand the enormity of what they're consenting to?

If they're old enough to give their informed consent, they'll be old enough to control their own social media accounts and images.

TixieLix · 09/04/2019 20:07

One of my friends posts tons of photos of her three grandchildren. I think she posts every photo that she takes (and other people take). There are so many she has them sorted into albums - DGD1 birth - 1 year, DGD2 1-2 and so on. I don't mind seeing the odd photo but this is excessive.

BackInTime · 09/04/2019 20:09

I do not post lots photos of my DC online as I believe they have a right to privacy. I also think that it is hypocritical for me to share everything about them on social media while also advising them as they get older about online safety and to not share too much themselves online.

I think that there are so many other ways to share with close friends and family that it really is not necessary to share on social media.

KizzyWayfarer · 09/04/2019 20:10

Yes, or rather DH tends to do it and tags me, probably about once a month or so. I can’t think of anyone in RL who I’m Facebook friends with who doesn’t share the odd cute picture with friends.
I worry about a lot of things related to my kids, from climate change and antibiotic resistance to DS1’s aversion to most fruit and veg. Someone finding in the future a picture of one of them aged 2 in a Gruffalo onesie doesn’t really feature on the worry list.
Having said that I wouldn’t put them on something like Twitter or Instagram where the aim is to broadcast to the wide world, not share with friends.

princesskatethefirst · 09/04/2019 20:12

No never, children have aright to privacy now and in their older years. Photos can never fully be deleted and when they are adults they may not feel the same about having pictures of them online as they do as children or teens, they can't possibly understand the ramifications at a young age. There is nothing to gain from it whatsoever.

Finalyfine · 09/04/2019 20:12

I only got one picture of myself from when I first created a fb account. I don't mind if others post pictures of my dc. My eldest is only five years, so I might change later on. I'm a big introvert and don't like pictures. Since the last birthday party dh took ds1 to, I been asked why is there no pictures of me on the walls of the house and why don't you take to much photos of me mummy? I do have a decent album pictures of my dc stored in my phone and one printed home album (started after my old phone broke and I had not stored any of my photos onto the cloud/ or anywhere else). It has started to make me question, is it worth it to keep him away from social media? I can't shield him away from the world but what is a happy compromise?

PortiaCastis · 09/04/2019 20:14

No dd is 20 and would not be happy for me to put her mugshot on SM so as I've friends who live abroad I just e-mail pics. Dd has her own SM accounts so up to her if she wants to pose for and put pics on her accounts, she did used to fartarse around taking selfies and putting bunny ears on pics 4/5 years ago but seems to have grown out of that now

zeddybrek · 09/04/2019 20:14

No. I'm not on FB or Instagram. And even when j was I didn't post photos of DC.

I tried to delete my Facebook account however it's not as easy a sit seems. I think it makes your account dormant when you think you're deleting it. Instead there is a whole process to it. Anyway I digress.

I don't think it's fair to post photos of children on social media. But each to their own.

LellyMcKelly · 09/04/2019 20:15

My 13yo daughter performs at a high level in a sport so when there are championships etc. I will post pictures of her performing but will always ask first. Her club will post similar photos and it is followed by thousands of people. If I want to share other photos of her or my DS I will show them the photo and ask them first (it’s rare I would want to share photos anyway). If they say no it doesn’t happen. I’ve also hidden old photos, have a relatively limited number of friends (and know them all IRL), and my account is locked down as far as possible.

riotlady · 09/04/2019 20:19

I put a few on Facebook every now and again, my profile is set to private and I’ve whittled my friends list down a lot. I don’t put anything on Instagram or anywhere public.

Things might change as she gets older though, she’s only 1