Parents posting their disabled children on social media

[MarysDressWaves]

Is it just me who finds this a bit questionable as in a few of the videos I've seen, the child is either too unwell to give consent (eg lying in hospital bed on a ventilator) or due to ND type disabilities may not be fully aware either. I understand that parents may want support, or to raise awareness but that about the rights of the child?

It’s a difficult one but on balance I think if it raises awareness of certain issues or disabilities then I think it’s worth it. With the amount of vitriol directed at disabled people at the moment maybe some empathy wouldn’t go amiss?

The constantly threads around PIP on here show that the general public really do need a lot more education on what living with a disability is really like.

I disagree with hiding everything away so people don't have to think about it.

I totally agree that any parent can post whatever they like about their child. Its more when that child is so fully included, do they not have rights to privacy?

I donate to two little lads here in Ireland with duchene’s disease. Different in that they are communicating but I guess their parents could just talk about them but it was seeing them that made me donate. In a way I agree in another people are desperate (honestly eff all those billionaires out there that could sort so many people’s lives and instead do ridiculous things with their money)

Touched a nerve eh @Mamabear487?

I agree.

SEN parenting has become fairly voyeuristic and uncomfortable in the last few years.

A SEN mum I know said she left the online community because it became cliquey, attention seeking and downright obnoxious. Aggressive in their ‘advocacy’ and selling kids out for clicks.

Yes those thread make uncomfortable reading. Im disabled myself (on PIP) and have a daughter also disabled and in receipt of PIP. I guess its thinking about her and how she'd hate being so exposed on social media that got me thinking.

Maybe I am being unreasonable then by comparing others to our lives.

It’s abusive - exposing their child for clicks.

I think it’s fine to raise awareness/money in a dignified way.

But there are a core of ‘SEN mum campaigners’ who sell every aspect of their kids lives for clicks, use horrible language, bully anyone who posts anything they don’t like, instigate pile ons etc

I also agree and find it a bit disturbing; it feels wrong to me when people can’t consent to having their photo taken etc.

I put a collage on FB today for my son’s birthday. If he does something new, cute, or funny, I do also occasionally put videos on.

But frankly, so do most other parents I know, and I don’t see why my son being disabled should mean I can’t share his occasions or achievements.

I know what you mean OP. I'm a bit conflicted because I think a warts and all insight to their lives is valuable, social media all too often only shows the falsely happy bits and the horrible bits are their reality. But I have seen some that make me uncomfortable thinking about the childs (or teenagers) right to privacy and thinking I wouldn't want photos/videos of me like that for the world to see. Although I'm also aware that I'm not in their shoes so can't really know how I'd feel.

I would argue that parents shouldn't post any pix or videos of their kids on SM, disabled or not.

I don't think anyone's suggesting that parents of disabled children cannot post. I suppose the most akin thing is if you would post your son ill in hospital or when he was very distressed.

I agree. It's really not okay to post endless content of someone who can't consent, or doesn't fully understand. I also find it questionable that money is being made out of their children.
Besides that, I do worry for the parents, those who call themselves "SEN mums" or "autism mums" (nearly always mums), centring themselves in their children's struggles, it almost robs the children of their own identity.

Two of my children have additional needs - one is autistic and the other is autistic and also has a physical disability. I avoid all of the SEN Facebook groups because they are full of parents giving far too much detail about their children, sharing videos which no child would want shared if they knew.

Honestly, I think it's shameful.

I don’t agree with posting photos of kids online because they can’t consent.

That's where I am. All kids.

No, because when he’s in crisis I’m far too busy dealing with that to be recording it.

I can absolutely see why others do, however.

There’s a lot around about SENd kids (and adults) at the moment. About how they should be managed better, how Sue from round the corner would raise them, how they’re not autistic they’re just rude, etc. There is a completely awful wave of it.

I think if people can see with their own eyes how bloody difficult it is, they might stop being so incredibly rude about it and maybe develop a bit of sympathy rather than intolerance.

SENd parenting can also be a very lonely place. I can see that for some people, those videos make them feel seen, and like someone somewhere understands their difficulties.

💯There are so many perverts out there and ai and you just don’t know what people will do with these photos. Not worth it. The worst is parents who post pics of their kids in their school uniform. Great - now every potential rotter knows their name and where they go to school. How safe!

Not necessarily because of perverts. Just for privacy and dignity.

Yes I agree but there are stats that show Sen kids are more likely to be abused and so these parents need to be even more careful.

No, that's not true. The parent does not have to 'right' to make content based on their child. They might have a legal right (I think the law should be changed to limit how much parents can expose their children on social media) but they don't have a moral right.

I understand where you are coming from, but unfortunately some parents post images of their children for all the wrong reasons.

It should be other people’s business, posting children who cannot consent - that is all children not just disabled children should be illegal. I think picture of your DC on your private page should be all that is allowed. There are families out there posting every meltdown, every blood test, every single detail of their child’s life to the whole world. It’s intrusive and disgusting that people do this for views/clicks and so many people have monetised their children. Vile.