Never posting images of my kids on social media

[Mcemmabell]

I used to post images of my little boy on Facebook and Instagram until he was about 2. And with my second until he was just under 1. Then I suddenly started to feel uncomfortable about it and stopped. They're now 5 and 2 so it's been a while. I have a photo sharing app for family and I might message a friend a picture once in a while - but that's it. What does everyone think about this topic? Am I being unreasonable not to post anything or is it the way to go? I'd love to know what the general consensus is.

I don't like to do it because :
My kids are too young to consent
Taking social media friendly images and pictures takes me out of the moment
I feel like it puts pressure on me to make things look perfect
I'm concerned that pictures could be shared / saved without my consent
I wonder how my children will feel when they're older teenagers

I'm not mad if other people choose to do it though. My best friend still does, and my brother. It's just not for me.

There isn't a general consensus, people just do what feels right for them and their family.

We don’t do it either, mainly for the consent reason, who knows what the online world will be like in the years to come. Our child might not want all
his milestones and photos plastered all over the internet.

I think nobody cares what you do with your own children..

I used to, as I used FB to stay in touch with everyone in my hometown after I moved. But the world has changed and it's not safe anymore. People can use AI to put our child's face on porn images and video. I deactivated my FB and downloaded all my photos and won't be posting any more. Everything you said and more!

I don't share pictures of my child at all on social media. It's just not something I'm comfortable with and I don't think people I went to college with 10 years ago really want to see them either.

Lots of people don’t do it. Most of my friends and relatives don’t. I honestly think it’s a small minority who still does it. It’s tacky and irresponsible.

I agree with your decision, main reason being how your children will feel when older, or the reaction of others when they see such photos.

From a security perspective I don't think you are being unreasonable.

I never have and never will. They have a right to their privacy and I am not comfortable with it at all. The people I care about and the people who care about my kids get regular updates. No one else needs to know anything about them.

There was a case in Canada (I think) where a woman basically fabricated her entire life with a newborn and subsequent toddler using images she had used/stolen from another woman’s social account.

YANBU. However some people who do it are virtue signalling. Like posting a photo of their child on their own with a Santa sticker over their face. What was the point in uploading anything at all? Just don’t post pictures with them on.

I have always shared occasional photos of my dc. I don't think it's a big deal unless you have a specific personal reason for worrying about it. My dc are 15 and 18 and aren't remotely bothered by it. I am not interested in making my life 'look perfect'.

This!! I don’t understand it at all!!

Im happy to post stuff. But have recently started just doing stories and the odd post that will stick around!!

Personally I don’t see anything wrong with it….. my security settings are pretty strict though….. but the AI comment above has given me food for thought!!

W don't post pics on social media. We do use Family Album, an app that lets selected people we share the link with view pics (grandparents etc) without them being visible to a wider network.

I don’t share anything on SM, it’s really a privacy thing for my child who can’t yet consent to it really.

I stopped posting on social media a few years ago, and it seems it's become more fashionable not to now. I like the anonymity and keeping my life to myself, but I still take loads of photos just for my own use. I'm not too bothered about the consent issue or feeling pressured to make things look perfect.

I post - dc old enough to consent and I check they’re happy first. My dc are involved in lots of theatre productions locally and regularly feature in the local newspapers and website so the privacy horse has bolted. I would understand people but wanting to share on sm and dbil and dsil never do so I wouldn’t upload a pic of my nephew.

100% this

you do what you’re comfortable with. I feel sorry for the kids whose lives are plastered all over the internet because that’s how their parents generate their income. But it is what it is. Hope the parents save enough for life long therapy

This.

Plus I doubt many teens will care either.

You do you though

I agrée with you op- I don’t share pictures of my children anymore on sm. Like you say they can’t consent - dh and I only send pictures to our parents to keep them updated. Random people I’ve been friends with or worked with over the years do not need a rolling narrative of my children’s lives. It is a bit weird the way you know the ins and out of some peoples and their families lives on social media- privacy is definitely a thing of the past!

I've never posted my DC on SM, just didn't feel right. A lot of (often younger) people I know post all the time about any little thing. Just don't feel the need in general to display life experiences, not enough time for it, for more important things to do. I will share photos with family and friends but why plaster them all over for strangers to see?

I used to, but haven't posted anything on social media in years, although I still use FB and Instagram for browsing.

Someone once shared a couple of my pics of the kids on FB and I couldn't see who it was to find out why, really didn't like it and never posted a pic of them again.

YANBU. However some people who do it are virtue signalling. Like posting a photo of their child on their own with a Santa sticker over their face. What was the point in uploading anything at all? Just don’t post pictures with them on.

God yes. Someone I know has posted at least one photo of their child on social media every day for two years but never shows their face. Always from behind or wearing a big hat etc. I agree it's virtual signalling.

I don't post because I want my children to have control over their digital footprint. They'll remain absent and untraceable until they're old enough to make informed decisions.

I think it's quite an important barrier to preserve.

Some people are obsessed with sm and posting pictures. They think they and theirs and so important .
How everyone has got time to look.it all up and read and like I can't imagine.

Most stuff you read is boring and repetitive anyway. People just post for the sake of it sometimes.

Why do they think they are so important andcwhatgtgey are doing is so important to others?

Agree also they don't have their Children's Consent.