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There is no denying that social media has taken the whole world by storm and online presence is a huge necessity today. People from all walks of life maintain a social media presence and update photos, information, and events on their profiles to share their lives with the rest of the world. Social media has helped millions of people share their talents, thoughts, and opinions with just a touch of their fingers. It’s a great place to build a community and give everyone a platform to have a voice.
While there are numerous benefits to social media, there’s no denying that it comes with its set of cons. Sharing photos of special occasions is very common on social media, but it’s crucial to be cautious while doing so. When it comes to your kids, you cannot be too safe. So, here are seven photos of your kids that you should NOT post on social media:
1. When They Are Not Fully Dressed
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They might be little kids, but they deserve privacy too. Any pictures of your kids partially or entirely naked should not be posted on any online forum. It might be harmless and adorable to you, but if it reaches the wrong hands, it could turn out to be detrimental! Unfortunately, the world is crawling with creeps like pedophiles and pornographers. So, it’s unsafe for such photos to be on the web. Besides, it’s difficult to get things off of the internet once they are out there. If a photo gets spread around you will find it hard to stop the circulation.
2. When They Are Sick Or Injured
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When under the weather, your kids will not look their best. They might have droopy eyes, allergic faces and what not. Posting such pictures without their consent is not the best thing to do. Would you like it if someone posted your photos online when you are sick, cranky, and hurt? Obviously not! So, apply the same logic to your baby too. Take care of them and be there for them offline. Your social media community can wait!
3. Child Shaming Photos
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Why is child-shaming all the rage right now? If you go through Instagram or other social media platforms, you will probably notice several parents shaming their children on their accounts. Some do it seriously while others do it “for fun”. Either way, STOP! Shaming your child can lead to self-esteem issues when they grow up. Your children could even develop mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Do you really want to be the cause for that?
Instead kids should be encouraged for their good deeds and efforts. Encouraging them would have a positive reinforcement that would help them develop themselves. They will feel supported by their parents and friends.
4. On The Potty
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It might look adorable to you to see your baby using the potty successfully for the first time. But when you post such pictures on social media, it stays forever and will probably come back to haunt your child. Imagine your teenage kid being bullied with these photos. It’s unfair to them! You put pictures of moments that were meant to be private out in the open for the world to see, and now they have to bear the brunt of it.
5. Group Pictures With Other Kids
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If you’ve decided to share pictures of your kid online, that’s entirely your prerogative. But when you take group pictures with other kids, it’s best not to share them because not all parents will be comfortable sharing their children’s pictures online. Therefore, respect their privacy and refrain from posting their children’s pictures.
If you really want to post such a group photo with your child in it, the polite way would be to ask the parents of the other kids if they agree to it. Once they give their permission then it’s okay. Also show them exactly which photo you want to share so that they can agree to it.
6. Photos That Could Bully Them
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Of course, it is not your intention to cause any harm to your kids. But sometimes, certain images of your child may become bullying fodder for other kids. Therefore, be extra careful about what you share online. A simple picture of your kid crying, expressing fear or concern, or simply displaying a sign of weakness could backfire in ways you can never imagine. Even a harmless nickname (that’s perhaps funny) could be used against them in school or other places. It could humiliate them and lead to grave repercussions for your children.
7. Private Details
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This one’s a no-brainer! The digital world is easily accessible to anyone smart enough to know where to look. So, avoid sharing personal details on your social media! Information like full names, addresses, school names, where they hang out after school, their playground location, and timings of different activities are best kept private. Predators, kidnappers, and other creeps in society are always lurking around to find vulnerable kids, and the last thing you want is for anything to happen to your precious baby because of some information you leaked!
It’s natural for parents to want to share bits of their lives on social media since that’s all the rage right now. But when it comes to your kids, it’s best to be careful about what you share and how much you share. After all, kids are sensitive, and any information put online will stay forever. So, you don’t want that to come back and bite them in the future.
Sharing pictures of birthday celebrations, family photos taken during festivals and other such events are safe photos to share with the world. Besides, remember that the less you share with the world, the less you’re opening yourself up to criticism from strangers online. Are you an active parent on social media? Do you enjoy sharing moments of your child’s life? Let us know in the comments below!
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