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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:
WorraLiberty · 09/04/2019 23:46

No. Lack of children's ability to consent should mean by default people shouldn't do it imho

That's exactly it.

They don't know what they're actually consenting to. They're just okaying the actual photo.

And again, why?

So the parent can enjoy the likes, hearts and comments.

LadyB49 · 10/04/2019 00:24

SamanthaBrique don't be so silly!! Of course I dont suspect one of my fb friends is a paedophile. You are trying to be 'clever'..... and it just comes across as being a smart ass.

But there will be people on the internet who are more IT savvy than you or me and are perfectly capable of accessing photographs on fb accounts.

SmarmyMrMime · 10/04/2019 00:45

It's naturally declined as they've got older and the number of photos has declined anyway as their rate of change slows down. My profile has tight settings and more casual friends are listed as aquaintences and don't see everything anyway. I haven't posted anything that I wouldn't consider putting in a frame on the wall or in an album.

The ILs have a whatsapp group which I find more awkward than FB. FB, you post and people can skim past or interact with at their leisure. A small group on whatsapp feels more in your face, plus it tends to result in downloading the image depending on settings.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 10/04/2019 03:14

I used to, a lot more than I do now. I think people have woken up in recent years and the fact that on this thread alone there are at least 3 examples of older children not wanting their parents to post photos is very telling.

Ohmygoodness101 · 10/04/2019 03:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ParkaPerson · 10/04/2019 04:59

I massively culled my Facebook when my DD was born - I got a few miffed messages from people asking what they'd done to offend me but overall it's had the side effect of taking up much less of my time.

I now have only people who if I saw in real life I'd be likely to subject to my printed out photo album Grin and my Instagram which I use more is just pictures of the dogs, cats, and occasionally a non identifying bit of DD e.g. her hand patting the dog's head.

I have a lot of close friends and family abroad who don't necessarily know each other so WhatsApp groups aren't an option, so I do post pictures on Facebook but as she gets older I will probably stop anyway and discuss it with her.

I had a bit of a falling out with a friend recently. She posted a whole load of photos of her visit without asking me. She was offended when I asked her to take them down or make them private- she has a public account- as she had got so many likes. Agh!

TakeMe2Insanity · 10/04/2019 05:28

Before dc I loved seeing friends/family on social media. Then I had dc and suddenly felt very responsible. As a result I only post occasional pictures on facebook with privacy settings. On my instagram which is open, only back of head shots or where the face is not visible.

joyfullittlehippo · 10/04/2019 05:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FairfaxAikman · 10/04/2019 05:55

As I live a fair distance from family I have a secret FB album for DS's pics. Only certain people can see them.

Forthepurposesofthetape · 10/04/2019 06:05

I only put pics now and then. My friend has her child posing for social media on every day out she takes them on - it's obviously a big part of their lives. I wonder if the children find it tiresome having to constantly smile for the camera so that some imagined audience can approve of them and their mum. I certainly find it tiresome having to look at them!

exLtEveDallas · 10/04/2019 06:44

Yes I so, and DD is absolutely fine with it. If she wasn't, I wouldn't do it. Only on FB as I know all my friends on there.

(And there is even a bare arse photo on there from about 10 years ago that she thinks is hilarious)

BookCzar · 10/04/2019 06:46

I ocassionally post photos of my DD (6), but the privacy is always set to 'friends only', and I only have around 100 people on FB, and know all of them. Plus, my family are scattered all over the place, so it's a nice way of keeping in touch.

Nature photography is my hobby, though, and most of the pics I post are scenery with my DD doung her thing somewhere in the background. 😁

BookCzar · 10/04/2019 06:47

doing*

randomchap · 10/04/2019 06:52

None that are specifically of the DC, some photos that have them in groups, like wedding photos, family groups etc but I have my FB account locked down quite well. The photos are only shared with close friends and family, most people on my FB are set to be acquaintances so don't see what I post.

When the DC are older they can decide what goes on social media, once they've been taught the risks.

reluctantbrit · 10/04/2019 06:56

Yes but I am quite selective. I post photos I would put on display or send to the grandparent (not on fb). Def nothing embarrassing or one DD wasn’t happy or aware that it had been taken.

DD is 11 and I check with her if it is ok though.

Continentalmama · 10/04/2019 07:09

Yes, and I don't know a single person in real life who doesn't. Obviously some do more then others but not one of our friends has a no photos on SM rule. I love seeing pictures and updates of friends and families children but certainly wouldn't want to be receiving them all via email/WhatsApp as l would feel that I had to send lengthy replies which would take far too much time. Far quicker to see on FB/ig and 'like'. I'm with a pp who says sending pictures privately to people feels self indulgent, you're forcing people to reply, I would only subject immediate family to that! However when/if they tell me stop of course I will, and all my SM is as private as possible with no unknown people on there.

SheStoopsToConker · 10/04/2019 07:14

Those of you who don't post photos on Facebook because of security or copyright concerns but use Messenger or WhatsApp - do you realise Facebook owns both of those too?

saganorenscarandcoat · 10/04/2019 07:18

No, not at all. I'd hate photos of me used without my knowledge so I give them the same respect.

StillNotMe · 10/04/2019 07:21

No, I don't. I don't allow anyone to post photos of me without my permission so why would I do it to my child? She might grow up to be a public person (you never know, she's two) and I don't want journalists getting hold of the photos of her on a potty.
Children deserve privacy.

polarpig · 10/04/2019 07:22

Those of you who don't post photos on Facebook because of security or copyright concerns but use Messenger or WhatsApp - do you realise Facebook owns both of those too?

That's why I don't use Messenger or WhatsApp.

greenlynx · 10/04/2019 07:23

No, I don’t post pictures on SM at all. All our relatives live abroad. We Skype and send them photos by email.

MrsBudd · 10/04/2019 07:24

I use the Lifecake app and just share it with close family. That way I don't clog up my friends newsfeed with loads of baby pics but my parents and in laws get to see lots of photos every day. It also has something similar to timehop so you can look through old memories.

Werkit · 10/04/2019 07:28

Every now and again, with their permission. I don’t post anything that they haven’t agreed to. My social media is very locked down, too.

LegoPeopleEverywhere · 10/04/2019 07:37

I know a few mum bloggers who are very “right on” and often write about “teaching our children about consent”. They aren’t bothered about consent when it comes to using their child on SM to build their blog and make money. One had a photo of her child on the potty

Couldn't agree more. The worst are bloggers who portray themselves as parenting experts, all about consent and gentle parenting etc, but then don't mind completely disregarding their children's privacy in order to drive more likes and traffic towards themselves.

Nuttyaboutnutella · 10/04/2019 07:50

No, we out one up when DS was born and that was it. He's 2 now and rarely gets mentioned on there.

A relative of mine posts pictures of her son every day, including last week with a potty training photo. I feel sorry for him when he's older and realises even his bowel movements were announced to the world.

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