Introduction
This is standard procedure where I live in Eastern Europe. Some mothers forbid photographers from posting images of their babies—especially newborns—on social media due to discrimination and jinx fears. Grandmothers, who are older in society, are typically the ones who start this.
For not adding the photos to their social network and portfolio, some of the local photographers even charge an exorbitant cost.
And here’s the funny part: you frequently come across pictures like this on social media, “protected” from jinxes.
Do you believe that your child’s teenage years are the only time to be concerned about social media safety? By then, won’t it make more sense? What does the way you post photos of your children online relate to social media safety?
Isn’t that the domain of the anxious? The ones who believe that dishonorable people are hiding behind every corner? What makes posting funny or adorable pictures of your kids online so dangerous?
Let’s start with a realistic perspective on social media etiquette and safety from the minute you take that first photo in the delivery room.
Is Sharing Photos of Your Child on Social Media Safe?
When determining whether it is acceptable or hazardous to upload pictures of children online, there are many different things to take into account. The NSPCC advises parents to think twice before sharing pictures of their children on social media.
An NSPCC “For very young children, consider whether they would be happy for you to post or if it will embarrass them,” the spokesperson told the BBC. It is advisable not to post if you are unsure.
The digital imprint you are leaving for your child is the main topic of this debate. You never have complete control over an image after it’s posted online.
The children and teenagers of this generation are the first to reach adulthood with fully documented digital lives. It’s too soon to tell how this will affect them down the road.
But this is only one of the dangers mentioned by some who think it’s inappropriate to share photos of your children on social media.
Dr. Kristy Goodwin highlights the dangers of sharing pictures of your children on social media and divides them into different categories.
Privacy Dangers: concerning identity theft
Cyber-safety risks include the possibility that predators would steal your photographs. According to her, there are reports that “50% of images shared on pedophile sites have been taken from parents’ social media sites.”
Psychological risks include disclosing embarrassing information that could be misused by others or violating someone’s privacy.
Goodwin continues by talking about the messages we are giving our kids when we support sharing. Rather than being present in the moments, are we missing them? Which lifelong habits are we instilling in them? Which model are we emulating?
How Do You Share Pictures of Your Children Safely?
We live in the social media era, and that is true. Social media is a tool that many of us use to connect with others and keep in touch with family.
Sharing images is vital to parents who are frequently isolated due to the nature of their “job” or who are just brimming with joy over their child’s recent accomplishment. So how can one safely exchange pictures?
The first thing to think about is permission. You should ask your youngster for their opinion if they are old enough to express one. You should honor their wishes if they do not want their picture to be shared publicly.
You should think about how they might feel about the picture in the future if they are younger. Could the picture be embarrassing?
The second thing to think about is your privacy settings. Make sure that no one may access your photographs without your permission on all social media accounts by checking your privacy settings.
But keep in mind that you still don’t have total control over this. Your “friends” can still duplicate and distribute an image you post, regardless of how well you know them.
Spend some time getting acquainted with the terms and conditions associated with each social media platform you use.
Please take care to maintain control over your “followers” and “friends” lists. Think about disabling the GPS on your phone.
If at all possible, give your kids unique internet nicknames. Another option is to limit the number of photographs you share by using photo-sharing websites like Picasa or Flickr, where you can only share the password with a select group of people.
What About Sharing Pictures of Other People’s Children?
It goes beyond merely exchanging pictures of your kids. Our kids have social lives by nature. What about the picture of them, wearing a tea towel on their head and beaming with pride during the school nativity, when their peers are in the background?
How about when your child blows out the candles at their birthday party with their pals present?
Here’s where social media etiquette comes into play. There is somewhat of an unwritten rule that you just never share pictures of someone else’s kid on social media without that person’s consent.
The Ofcom report showed that 70% of people did not believe it was appropriate to post someone else’s photo without their consent. You can also run into the policies of your child care center or school against sharing these kinds of images.
Permission is the deciding factor when it comes to social media manners. You must look for it and post only if you are successful.
Keeping Your Kids’ Photos Safe
It is ultimately a contentious matter. As a result, you must decide what you think is best for your family and, if you choose to share, make sure the appropriate privacy and permissions are in place.
According to the NSPCC’s “A Parents’ Guide to Being Share Aware,” you may get help and advice about privacy settings, social media, and how to protect your child’s photos.
The Facts and Stats on Sharenting
When the typical child reaches the age of five, their parents will have shared 1,500 images on social media. Sharing pictures of your child online is called “sharing,” according to the media. According to a 2017 Ofcom report, one in five At least once a month, parents post pictures of their kids to the internet.
In fact, the vast majority of parents polled by Ofcom completely shun sharenting. The majority claims that this is being done to safeguard under-18s’ privacy. But it’s a contentious matter. There is rarely a medium ground when it comes to parents and their sharing or passionately non-sharing tendencies.
Ofcom’s survey revealed that 36% of respondents firmly feel that only friends and followers should have access to personal images. Eighty percent are comfortable imposing these limitations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s a complicated choice to share photos of your children on social media. Carefully weighing the pleasure of sharing with the obligation to protect your child’s privacy is necessary.