School Twitter - I’m only one to decline pics... AIBU?

[DottyBee35]

Hello! First time poster here... My DD just started reception. The school has a Twitter account and posts photos of different class activities and goings on several times a day. We had to fill in a form with photo permissions and I declined. I always have (nursery, classes, etc), I guess because of the awful scare stories you hear about pedophiles taking and editing kids’ photos, or that a kid becomes a meme and is suicidal over it or bullies in high school dig up old photos from such accounts and use it to ridicule kids... Basically alllll the catastrophic thinking! 😬

I’ve now realised (since my child is the only squiggle in pics of her particular class) that I must be the only one who’s declined. So, I want to know, AIBU? Or is this something many of you feel uncomfortable with and wouldn’t agree to?

In case relevant- the school does use a parent-teacher app (Tapestry) that tells you about what they’re up to / report progress, so it’s not like the public Twitter account is the only way to know what goes on in school. (I guess, we haven’t gotten access to it just yet.)

I’m feeling torn over it. Of course I’m interested in what she and new classmates are doing collectively and I have pangs of sadness to not see her face in these pics. However, it really just doesn’t sit right with me to have her photos online, particularly ones that I have no control over... What are people’s thoughts on this? It’s been on my mind - I’m genuinely curious to know if I’m being totally OTT or if it’s a common mindset.

Thank you for reading! ☺️

@Aragog that's what I've assumed. It's fine by me. It's mostly not wanting to walk past school one day to see he's advertising an open morning or something!

Yanbu, we have always refused.

Piratepetespajamas

We don't use Facebook and twitter for lots of children's photographs. Just the odd one every so often, of about something specific.

We use a password protected learning journal for every day photographs. We use that daily as it's linked to learning outcomes and also early years learning goals, etc and for observations. They are like a digital exercise book for each child. We used it previously a bit, then used it constantly for our remote learning. Now staff are used to it that's contained now they're back, especially as can't send things back and forth between school and home. Teachers and TAs just use throughout the day as they go, and the older children can add their own too.

I am allocated half a day a week, or equivalent, for maintaining our social media and digital presence.

It was invaluable during lockdown and school closures.

PanamaPattie - that's entirely your choice, but you cannot expect all parents to have the same opinion as you. As a school we would respect your decision for your child. We respect the decision of other parents for theirs.

How much time is wasted updating SM accounts?

I confess I often think this when I see the drivel on the school Twitter feed.

Not all are like this but some it never ends!

What surprises me from this discussion is that the majority of parents aren't refusing permission for their children's pictures to appear on social media.

I think from what everyone has posted you can absolutely see that you are not being unreasonable and that a fair amount of people say no. My experience as a governor there was a lot of reasons why people wanted to say no, and they have no need to justify their reasons, you're the parents, you make the choices. I think about 10% say no.

I have no issues whatsoever with my children being on the schools twitter feed (they don't have facebook) - it's a small school, the head is very active with twitter, and I'll see a picture of my daughter at least once every couple of days. I love seeing the activities they do and the fun they are having. Especially with parents not being allowed inside the school gates at the moment, it gives me great insight into what she is doing, who is visiting, and what their activities are. It's a great tool for current and future parents and I don't see any risk, in fact I think it's great!

But you make the best decision you see for your child 100% - I can't see a reason to criticise either way.

Cant understand why it isn't all in one place on the school website . Ridiculous forcing people to use social media where people can easily obtain info they shouldn't be. The stress of checking emails , school website , school app , Facebook and twitter is insane. Should all be conducted in the one place. Class accounts for pupils could easily be on school website instead where they can get info about homework etc.

Cant understand why it isn't all in one place on the school website . Ridiculous forcing people to use social media where people can easily obtain info they shouldn't be. The stress of checking emails , school website , school app , Facebook and twitter is insane. Should all be conducted in the one place. Class accounts for pupils could easily be on school website instead where they can get info about homework etc.

Cant understand why it isn't all in one place on the school website . Ridiculous forcing people to use social media where people can easily obtain info they shouldn't be. The stress of checking emails , school website , school app , Facebook and twitter is insane. Should all be conducted in the one place. Class accounts for pupils could easily be on school website instead where they can get info about homework etc.

Unless you have specific safety concerns it seems odd to me. However it is up to you.

YANBU - we opted out of everything photos wise.

Remember - it is entirely your choice and don’t give what other people are doing a second thought. Do what feels right for you.

I opted out of social media photos, for me it's about my childs permission, they weren't old enough in primary to understand that this media and their photos could be there forever. In high school they said no and I even ask permission to post on my Facebook.

Companies now do social media searches you apply for certain jobs, being careful with your social media presence is not a bad thing.