If anyone knows how tempting it is to share our kids' hysterical,
adorable, or the ‘you won’t believe what they've done now’ moments with our
entire social networks, it's us. We get it. As proud parents we want to shout
their children's accomplishments regardless of how big or small. But the
Internet is a vast and potentially scary place, and it's our duty to protect
our families. As nice as it would be if those privacy settings were a
sufficient barrier, there are still limitations to every safety net that we
have to be conscious of. Here are 5 Photos of our Kids that we as parents
should hold off on sharing with the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter-verse.
1. Other Peoples kids
Everyone has their own positions on sharing their children's faces on
social media, so before you go posting and tagging away after a birthday party
or school trip, be sure to respect the views of the other families involved.
2. Where they go to school
We hate to think of our kids' schools as being anything other than a
safe zone, but the reality is, it's a scary world out there. If you share photos of your children in the classroom or on school grounds, make sure that
the name and/or features that distinguish its location are kept hidden.
3. Nude Photos
The
childhood pics I have with my dad sharing bath time are among my prized possessions,
however the reasons to steer clear of this category are pretty obvious. While
your rationale for sharing photos of your bath time tots is as straightforward
as "they're so cute!" it's simply not worth the risk of those
pictures getting into the wrong hands. Most social networks employ nudity standards,
but as parents we should take these a step further. If a photo could be
misconstrued as being sexual or suggestive in nature, just don't post.
4. Photos that show their whole name
Just as we should stay clear of personalized backpacks and jackets for
our kids, parents who post should refrain from sharing pictures that include
their children's names. Whether it's a name tag for a school event, a team
jersey, or holding up an A+ school report, make sure that your child's full
name is blurred or cropped out of the image before sharing.
5. Anything your kids may not want public
An easy guideline to follow when you're deciding which snaps of your
kids to share is this: if you think that they might not want the picture made
public (now or years down the road, if they're little), then don't share it.
It's as simple as that. If a photo is embarrassing, unflattering, or seems like
it should be private, then respect your child. Best keep those shots to use on
their 21st birthday cake ;-)
