It’s natural for parents to want to take plenty of photos of their child. There may be little moments that you want to look back on, there might be special days that you want a keepsake of, or you want to keep wider family and friends in the loop with what you’ve been getting up to.
We are now online more than ever. For today’s parents, social media is a presence that didn’t even exist when they were born, and many parents find that their child’s journey into the online world begins before they are even born, with pregnancy announcements and gender reveals readily shared on social media.
Sharing snippets of your child’s journey online can be a fun way to stay connected, but there are also some aspects to consider.
Who can see your photos?
If you often share pictures of your baby online, it’s important to regularly check your privacy settings on the platform. Both Twitter and Instagram give you the option to have a locked account where you must approve followers, and Facebook allows you to monitor who can see what you post – Facebook also gives you the option to have private folders and albums that only chosen people can see.
It is also worth checking who can share your posts.
Check photos before sharing
Parts of photos can mean that private information can be shared on a wider basis.
A birth announcement or monthly update post could give your child’s full name, date of birth and birthplace – which could be a recipe for a future scam disaster!
The ‘first day of school’ photo in full uniform by the front door can mean that many people see what school or nursery your child attends, what the front of your house looks like and the number that you live at.
Checking and cropping out or blurring details like this can keep your information private and safe.
Discuss your wishes with family
Some parents choose to not post pictures showing their children, or their children’s faces, online at all. However, wider family may want to proudly show off their nieces, nephews or grandchildren with their online community. Even though this is a way for them to share their pride and love, there are also boundaries that need to be respected.
Have a conversation with family and set ground rules on what you do and do not want to be shared. If they feel like they are missing out, or they live far away, you could set up a group message for pictures to be shared privately.
Consider your child’s privacy
Your baby cannot give informed consent about what is posted of them online. Publicly posted photos can follow them online for a long time to come, and what is cute now might be embarrassing for them later down the line.