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.

My FB friends are all my real friends. I like them and care about them, so I like seeing photos of their children.

Because the kids have just gone back to school. That's the answer to your question.

It’s a quick and easy way of sharing a photo that others might want to see.

I used to share photos a lot on Facebook - WhatsApp/instagram etc didn’t exist and it was easier than emailing if there were a few photos (and much easier than having photos developed and sending them through the post).

It meant that all the family, who don’t live close by, could see what we had been up to, even the ones in Australia. It’s a nice, gentle, low obligation way of keeping in touch.

Now I share photos on a family WhatsApp group instead, and choose exactly who sees them. But I never had “hundreds” of friends on Facebook, and people who weren’t interested in my DC didn’t have to look. Frankly they didn’t even have to be my friend on Facebook, it’s not compulsorary.

I really do not get what bothers people about how other people chose to use their social media. Providing it is safe and frankly Christmas gifts a dn back to school pictures they are safe. I get the dont post your street etc however the chances of someone stumbling on your face book and a back to school picture making them trace your child down yo do them harm. It's slim. The wast majorities of victims know their abusers. So if your child is going to be abused by someone that someone will likely be able to fet information like school and address far easier.

Christmas photos they will judge by other means than aphoto of your child with lots of presents if you are worth a burglary .. your car. State of your house.. how you dress will all be seen before your Facebook photos.

I have family abroad. Hey I have adults on my Facebook I've never met in person. They are my cousins children and frankly I love watching their children grow up. I love seeing how little Mike (not a real name) looks like our side of the family. I love seeing their school excitement. When mine were small my cousins used to tell me their kids loved to see photos of ours in school uniform as they were not used to this.

For me Facebook provides a snapshot of our lives in that moment. Be safety aware by all means but not just on social media. And how people chose to use their social media is up to them. I have a friend who posts over 100 photos of each holiday or outing. I don't go through them. That's my choice. How my friend uses her sm is her choice

I sort of agree OP. When my DS is older I am sure I will take the same photos, but just for my family and a few close friends. I find it odd sharing them on social media, but then we have only shared one photo of our son on social media ever, to announce his birth, so it is just not our thing. Think I am in a minority I thinking this though and it is quite sweet to see the ones that are posted. A girl I went to school with has shared a photo on Facebook of her eldest starting at our old school in year 7 and she is the spitting image of her mum aged 11 in the same uniform, which was rather lovely to see.

Basically it is not something I would choose to share on social media, but it is also harmless and quite sweet, so maybe just let it wash over you

What are you struggling with?

I’ e just seen a year 8 back to school photo where the girl’s skirt barely covers her bum. I can’t believe that it is school uniform as meant to be worn.

But a LOT of people only have the friends and family on their socials that you would privately share the image with. So it's essentially the same thing. Post it once to a closed social page, and all you closest friends and family see. It really isn't any different.

I work a lot with cse and child protection and I have to say every time I see the back to school photos from outside the house I cringe a little because in one post whoever wants it has access to where the child goes to school, what class they're in, usually their name and often the door number of the house as well as what the house looks like from the street. I totally get why parents want to take the photos to mark the occasion and celebrate the child's milestone but it just freaks me out from a safety perspective. That being said I'm pregnant at the minute and it's hard to imagine not having photos of our kid on Facebook because it's been where I document all nice/ special/ big moments in my life and its nice to look back on. But the fact that even with private settings Facebook own the rights to the photos and can sell them to whoever they want for whatever use makes me feel a bit uneasy.

I honestly do not know why half of Mumsnet have social media accounts of any kind. They are not compulsory.

I have social media, my settings are private but I can understand the concerns such as @Cw112 has mentioned.
But a lot of MN seem to have fb or Instagram but then object to, or look down on/scorn all sorts without mentioning any safety issues ....are holidays or days out potentially dangerous? ...or celebrating a uni graduation? I've also seen complaints about house renovations....so I'm not sure all of it comes from a place of concern.

Totally agree OP. I was in the Drs surgery yesterday, she was telling her daughter that she'd taken a photo of her son and he was begging her not to put it on FB but she said it was her timeline and she could post what she wanted. When I worked in a secondary school the kids always complained about their parents posting them. Will be a thing in years to come I'm sure! Glad I was born in an era where photos were to capture a rare moment not an outfit change!

I'm not on fb but I ask friends and family to whatsapp back to school photos as I like seeing them.

Because my family are spreadout geographically and it's easier than sending to 8 different whatsapp groups. Because I love it when it comes up in my memories and see how they've grown. Because I am still friends on facebook with the friends I made when they were babies, and we love seeing each others babies growing up.

Maybe you could mute school posts. Or have a good think about why you care so much about others behaviour??

Of course not, but we all rolled them up too.

Looking back, it was a good way of deflecting rebelliousness into something harmless.

@Cw112 Everyone on my facebook would know what school my kids go to as I share other information about it. Most people have my address. A series of photos of them in my front garden isn't going put them at any risk what so ever!

Did your parents take full length photos of you with your skirt rolled up and send copies to all and sundry?

No. They did far worse.

OP, just leave Facebook. You can live without it.

The worst thing to me will be people who bring out or show such photos of said children in years to come, when they are much older.

So you don't have children but bitch about your friends back to school photos behind their backs?

That is really quite a strange thing to do.

That’s tragic behaviour. And I don’t mean the pictures of pets in ties.

How so? It’s a safe venting space whenever we need it.

YABU.

YABVU.