Evening classes/events: AIBU to be annoyed that it is almost routine to put photos on social media now?

[BangorAndMash]

I have recently joined a life drawing event. After I got home, I found that the lovely tutor had posted photos on the web. I joined a running club and was told that I had to opt out of photos. I had a word and then felt mortified when they announced to all and sundry that I had opted out and if anyone else wanted to opt out, that was ok. Of course a dozen pairs of eyes all swivelled over to see who this weird person was who didn’t want to be on their photos. If you join any exercise class, they want to post photos online.

It is getting a bit much especially with all the increasing powers of AI and reverse image searches etc on Google.

I don’t want to have my photograph stored across social media and the new normality of this is getting on my nerves. It’s also getting on my nerves that you need to tell them especially that you don’t want your gob plastered across the local Facebook feeds. And for the Running club you have to tell them every bloody week.

AIBU?

Completely agree. I really dislike it. I don't share any personal photos on social media but there are ones of me out there with relation to the team sport I do. Both because players post them and also because organisers do.
It should be basic etiquette to ask first and be fully accepting that some people don't want it.

Whether I am a victim of domestic violence or on a witness protection scheme or have left my vulnerable disabled teen at home (and don’t want people knowing I go to a running club weekly or just don’t like attention being drawn to me in a group of total strangers- I feel it’s right to avoid publishing pics and to avoid making someone feel like they have to ask and drawing attention to them for it.

I agree with you. I do have some sympathy with tutors/organisers as photos are an important part of marketing and promotion of their events but they should make more effort to take them in a way that doesn't show people's faces, i.e. make protecting identity the norm rather than making people opt out.

I went to a local event and they had a special lanyard for if you don’t want to be in photographs which seems like a good idea.

If I am depending on Mike from the running club to remember which puce faced woman didn’t want to be in the social media feed, this might not be too reliable.

How did you find out about the classes?

In some cases, I found out about classes on social media but that doesn’t mean I need identifiable photos of the actual participants. I am capable of reading.

I don't attend any class where they will post me on social media. The yoga place I go to publicise their classes very effectively by just doing photo shoots with all the teachers acting as attendees - this works really well.

Lots of people don't want to be featured online whilst looking hot and sweaty doing yoga/running or whatever.

This is one of the several reasons I won't have any truck with Parkrun.

As part of my business it is sometimes helpful to take photos to share with a small group of people. It is always with permission, and is just the part of a person, usually the hands, which is relevant to the issue.

I hate it. I have massive body issues and was filmed and put on the Facebook page of an exercise class I go to. I didn't know they'd done it until I saw myself and was mortified.

I agree, I actually tell people not to take my picture and that it means I’m great to take the group photo. Someone took a photo of a free lunch club I volunteer at and i thought it’s not on, I’m not in the photo but these are homeless or low income folk when I asked she said only sending to her DD. I had forgotten I’m going to ask about the policy on photos.

Usually it’s one of 3 reasons.

Publicity for the club, understandable but ask for consent.
Look at me and my fab life
Virtue signalling which I despise.

If they didn't tell everyone you didn't want your picture taken then they wouldn't be able to avoid it. The lanyard system is a good one

Marketing and advertising of events and groups heavily replies on photos and "seeing" what's going on now. Not showing faces is considered bad advertising form and also off putting to people

I missed two weeks of an exercise class because they were bringing influencers and I didn’t fancy being in the social media feed of some influencers. I haven’t gone out of the house in years as I had commitments at home and suddenly when I can now go to classes, this is a thing everywhere.

Actually the only person who was responsible for taking photos was telling everyone that I didn’t want my photo taken. Nobody else was taking photos.

There are privacy implications and technology is advancing. Do people want these images of themselves over a worldwide and infinitely available forum? Is it fair?

I totally agree that its becoming very intrusive.
The one that really upsets me is, churches near me have started posting photos on their social media sites, of people attending services.
Usually not regular mass, but special services, sometimes where people are deep in prayer or visibly upset because its a mass to remember victims of some disaster or war.
Fine to post a shot of the crowd from the back if you want to show there's a big attendance, but if you can't expect privacy while praying in God's house, then where can you!

When I took my son to Baby Sensory I ticked the box saying I didn't want photos of him online. Twice they posted photos and I had to ask to have them taken down. It really felt like the form was a tick box exercise and they were surprised I didn't want photos of him online. I also had to ask a friend to take down a photo of us at a birthday party. She knew my stance on this and the reasons why but she said it was a nice one of her children and wanted to post it!

She could have blocked the images of your kids.

I agree about Parkrun. Our local junior park run puts pictures of the kids running on social media every week. I asked the run director whether parents had given permission and they didn’t see an issue with it all. Basically told me parents could ask to have content taken down if they didn’t like it. I did point out that most of the parents probably don’t even know it’s been posted, but they didn’t seem bothered.

I hate the photo taking at parkrun as well. If it's a marshal type person volunteering to take photos I ask them not to but it's harder when it's actual runners videoing everything for their you tube channels. Nothing seems private anymore.

I have stopped doing ParkRun because of the photos and filming.

I have seen some local events pop up on FB that look fun. Wine and painting nights, that sort of thing. Then it says that by booking a seat, you are giving consent for your photo to be used on SM. That puts me right off.
There can be many reasons someone does not want their photo and location posted online.

I went to a quiz evening at a local cafe recently, and they took a photo of the room. I drew a smiley face on a paper plate, and covered my face up.