People posting pics of their children in hospital online

[Rolson77]

Why is this a thing? A friend (old school friend, we dont really speak other than in passing) of mine just 3 weeks ago had a normal amount of followers/friends online. Now her daughter is in hospital with a serious illness and she's opened up her social media, now has over 30k followers, because of the pics she's posting of her daughter online. One of them is her daughter crying with a dr/nurse putting a needle in her back. Another of her hand with a bloody cannula in it describing how she keeps pulling it out. Etc. Her daughter is 7 and cannot give informed consent for this. I don't know why it's pissed me off so much. Is this normal? Using your kids' illness to get likes and followers?

I can't even imagine what it would be like getting your first social media account, probably as a child, and scrolling back through your mum's account and seeing photos of yourself going through treatment.

But you specifically posted not to say that it’s unacceptable to post children online at all but to comment on children undergoing medical treatment!

I choose not to post my children online but I have zero issue with people posting photos if they have a secure profile and want to share. Whipping out the camera when James is screaming in A&E having stitches is incomparable to taking a photo when your child practically lives in a hospital. It’s not for me to judge someone in the latter situation- I cannot imagine how hard it must be.

I agree. Unless I was spreading awareness or something I wouldn’t personally.

I know lots of people use social media like a diary and they would see this act as posting something that has happened.

I personally don’t like posting my children on social s - I do on occasion, but think we should protect them.

I think in the future people will look back and be horrified at the widespread sharing of children’s pictures. They can’t consent and it’s of zero benefit to them. It’s all for the parents ego.

We all have teens now and thinking about it SM use in my wider friendship group has fallen off a cliff. Most people barely post anything just the odd snap of a nice view or funny incident in their own life. Nothing of teens. Dd recently passed her driving test - family WhatsApp only.

Children in hospital are not always distressed. Some of them aren't even ill
Exactly. When I was holding him down so they could try again to get a cannula in, I was 100% focused on him. When he was sobbing in my arms, I was 100% focused on him. When he was woozy from post op I held him and I was 100% focused on him. But that wasn't everything of 18 months in and out.

He turned one connected to tubes but smiley and happy, enjoying all the attention, not in pain.

He did his first steps in a walker in hospital.

He ate his first foods post op in hospital.

He giggled like crazy at plastic eggs in hospital.

He hung out with his cousins and friends in hospital.

We recorded and shared every moment we could in case we didn't get any more moments.

I agree.
I think very few adults will be grateful they were plastered all over the Internet as children. Especially when in vulnerable states.

Sadly, and trying to be as sensitive as possible. I think it's different for children who have died or were not expected to live. Simply because, sadly, they are not around to object as adults and so anything that gives the parents comfort is worth it.

I know a mum who does this. I dont get her posts anymore as ive muted her.

3 kids and the all have some kind of ailments.

no wonder she can’t keep a job down. Id not employ a woman like this who’s thriving off her kids having all sorts