Round One Goes to the Kiddos

KJ Dell’Antonia‘s article Don’t Post About Me on the Internet, Children Say brings up several great points that parents should most likely choose to internalize when it comes to posting pictures of their own children.  More and more often it is becoming evident that parents (not their children) are seemingly the culprits when it comes to internet posting inappropriateness.  Privacy between parents and teenagers has been an age old struggle, so why have parents elevated this privacy issue by slathering their social media accounts with images of their children doing the most private things (on the toilet, naked in the bathroom, having tantrums)?  Parents: we have to think about what type of implications this may have on our children in the future.  Not to mention, the safety risks that may come along with posting a child’s picture on the internet.

Just recently, a court case has taken place where a teenager has sued his parents for posting his baby pictures on Facebook.  The teen was awarded a quarter of a million pounds.  Along with this case, there have been several articles published that outline the legal penalties that may be bestowed on parents who have posted pictures of their children on social media.  Parents could face up to one year in jail or be fined up to $35,000 (pounds) if their child decides that the pictures his parents posted of a sweet little Cabbage Patch faced baby was inappropriate.

Now, suing your parents is definitely an extreme, but as a teenager if I noticed that my parents had posted a picture such as the one below, I would definitely be a little embarrassed.  A picture such as this would have certainly resulted in bullying (and probably still will be)  from my peers.  So parents, please watch what you post – it’s not all about you.

With those bangs and that silk green shirt, I was the definition of cool.

From this subject I have gathered some of my thoughts and have formulated a few points about posting images of your children on the internet.

A Small Guide to Posting Images of Your Children on the Facebook: 

• Why are you posting these images in the first place? Don’t exploit your child, let them be a little (they are only that way for awhile.
• Think about their future. You are not a teenager, you are an adult so don’t be selfish and don’t be impulsive.  Perhaps, you shouldn’t be posting an image at all.  Don’t get caught up with all the other parents who lay their children’s lives all out on the line.
• Ask parental permission if other children are in the picture you will be posting.

But how will I ever document my child’s life, you ask?

• Buy a Polariod camera or a Fujifilm Instax (my favorite).  The Instax usually go on sale fairly often at most major chains (Walmart, Best Buy, London Drugs).

My beloved Fujifilm Instax Mini 8. No filters, no selfies, just candid photos.

• Buy an Instax Smart Share Printer.  Don’t have a camera that automatically develops pictures?  Get yourself an Instax Printer.  These babies occasionally go on sale (at the same stores) and have the ability to automatically print pictures you have taken with your smart phone.
• Instantly print your pictures at Walmart Photo Center and pick them up the next day at a Walmart near you.
• Everything does not need to be posted on social media.  Thus, opt for sending the out the old time Bragging Christmas Letter or Email that your mom used to send to close family members and friends.

Parenting.com also offers some great suggestions as to items that just shouldn’t be posted when it comes to your child.

Do you post pictures of your children on-line?  If so, do you take into consideration the implications that it may have?