To loathe back to school photos on social media?

[blueskyeve]

I'm clearly in the minority after scrolling through my Facebook feed today. Every single post on there is a photo of a child posing in their school uniform. Why? Please someone explain, I must be missing something.

Think you misunderstand what Perry is saying!

I enjoy seeing them! It's just a simple photo of the children in uniform. Not offensive!

@blueskyeve I have 32 people who can see my posts. I have no interest in lots of random people.

Honestly, it says more about you that you think parents are doing it for 'likes'!

Most people I know don't have 400+ Facebook friends, I definitely don't.

Personally I do it because I love to see the memories come up in the future. I also like looking at my family and friends kids. I don't have randomers on fb.

But the whole of social media is totally pointless so where’s the harm in posting school pics something that’s an actual life stage as opposed to posting a photo of some gopping looking Sunday dinner 🤷‍♀️

@Soontobe60 "I don’t know about you, but the only photos like this that I’ve seen this week have been from people I know, not random strangers."

None of them are random strangers, I never said that. I know all my Facebook friends ...some better than others and some I've only met a handful of times, but they are all known to me.

This what I don't get.
SM isn't for everyone (I know Mumsnet is essentially SM as well) and a lot of people think it's attention-seeking or over-sharing (maybe they're right?) ...but then why have it at all? and follow people if you dislike, or disapprove of 99% of what they post...?

I think a lot depends on why/how you use SM. Mine is an accumulation of friends and family from all over, many of whom I rarely see IRL. Also I am a sentimental old coot who loves seeing the first day of school pics (plus any random kid/pet/holiday photos). I mainly use SM to feel connected to people I know, or relating to my hobbies. My DH on the other hand has a zillion “friends” on FB many of whom he maybe met once or twice, and mostly uses it to argue with people on local groups. And he gives zero shits about other peoples offspring. I can see why in which case the “miscellaneous school kids” thing would be irritating rather than engaging.

My kids are grown up now I never posted them in they're uniform first day back. I do like seeing the littleuns though all excited to be starting school. The bigger one's not so much.😂😂😂

Yeah, I don't think people should be parading their kids all over sm without their consent.

I love seeing friend’s children in their uniform. It is lovely to share their pride in their children. And I bet their relatives love seeing the photos too. I don’t really understand what you think Facebook is for if it isn’t for things like this.

So I'm actually very similar to you OP in some ways! I only use Facebook for hobby and local groups. I don't like the whole posting things to get validation from others thing either and like you, I take photos of my kids myself and we have photo albums (I love the nostalgia of having them printed out and arranged). The people I'm close to in 'real life' know the important stuff in my life, as I do in theirs. No need for sm posts 😊 I used to feel low and negative after spending time on Facebook just mindlessly scrolling through. I'd see so many posts from people making out their lives were so happy and fulfilled and knew from meeting up with them that this wasn't accurate. My SiL will post anything to try and get likes and I find it really unattractive as a behaviour. I work in mental health and the negative impact that social media can have on people is just so evident.

In terms of how you manage this - You can't change what other people post (nor should you!) The unfollow, unfriend and block options are your allies here. Have a good old unfollow binge or a friend-drain purge. My sister literally deleted all of her fb friends (me included 😂) and now only uses her account for groups and to find out about events. I'm tempted to follow suit.

I love the front door photos and I don’t think I’ve ever thought about why, other than happy little faces, proud parents, a milestone reached or a comparison from the year before… but this? This post brought a little tear to my eye. How lovely. Thanks for your take on it @Whatafustercluck.

People have little respect for their own and child safety, school logos, address etc in show, open profile etc.

I agree with you op, especially when they refer to 'little jimmy smashed it today' , everyone seems to smash everything these days.
My DS had a good day, he didn't smash a thing

I do it because it is an easy way to save them. I have loads of photos on my Facebook that I would have lost over the years if I hadn't posted them. I'm not the most tech savvy person and have lost loads of photos when my laptop stopped working, or when my phone has broken and I have had to buy a new one.

If it’s not on social media, it didn’t happen.

@HuzzahIndeed ah yes, the judgment we mete out to others often stems from how harsh we are with ourselves in our own internal monologue.

As for extending this sentiment beyond superficial appearance judgments, it’s the DCs who taught me about all the things I don’t like about myself. DS’s dawdling gets on my nerves because I can be deliberately slow at things; parents used to call me lazy. Once I’ve accepted I’m not lazy or slow, just thoughtful and deliberate, I began treating myself and DS with more compassion. DD always wants to be the centre of attention and I like it too. I could judge it as vanity, but instead I choose to accept it as an expression of a desire for connection with others, which requires an exchange of attention.

@blueskyeve please forgive the hijack.

I think it's odd when they're on an open social media account, but if someone posts on their private account and their friends are people they actually know i don't see an issue. Its a nice way to mark the day and for friends and family to see them in their uniform on their first day should they want to.

I share very, very few photos of my DS on Facebook (my account is private to only friends and family) and I never put pictures of him on Instagram or Twitter etc - I don’t think children should have a digital profile at all, but even I don’t object to the first day at school pictures.

Motherhood is really bloody hard and gruelling. Your child starting school is a huge milestone in your life and theirs - let people enjoy the fleeting moments when it’s fun and you’re all looking forward to the future together.

Someone I know really pisses me off by annually photoshopping a picture of her cat in school uniform and doing a sarky “they grow up so quickly” post. She’s clearly taking the piss out of the rest of us. It was funny the first time, but she does it each year, while having no conception of what a big moment this is for children and parents. It’s a bit ironic too given that she post 800 million photos of her holiday snaps on Facebook throughout the year…but there you go…

I love seeing them. I don't generally post pictures of my DC to social media. I will take pictures of my DC tomorrow, fresh, shiny and clean, with tidy hair and new, unscuffed shoes and I will be forever thankful that he is here to take photos of.

My other children went on ahead as babies and the milestones they're missing is a painful reminder. The year they should be wearing uniform and standing beside my eldest proud as punch will hurt particularly. I thank my lucky stars every day for who I do have.

Yes! This is exactly how I feel. Thank you so much for what you've said. I will be having a purge tonight. May have to take a leaf out of your sisters book too! 😂

I love seeing all the back to school photos 😊

Why document on social media though? That's what I don't understand. I take photos of my children, they are kept and we look back on them often, especially a year on, 2 years on etc. I share these photos with my family and close friends, why share with hundreds of people?

That's exactly what they are doing, sharing it with family and close friends - on Facebook!

Unfollow
Unfriend

Done