Posting photos and blogging about your child online

Posting photos of or comments about your child can be a nice way to share your child’s special moments, especially when you cannot be with family in person. But be aware of privacy concerns, as images and comments can’t be entirely removed from the internet. With older children, also ask how your child feels about you posting photos, videos and comments about her.

Why parents post photos of and information about children

Many families share photos of and information about children online. For example, you might:

  • share family holiday photos on social media
  • share baby pictures
  • contribute to Facebook groups – for example, if your child plays on a local team
  • contribute to advocacy websites – for example, if your child has a disability or other special needs.

Especially in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, many families connect digitally, through photos, videos, and writings about family doings.  These can be important ways to keep family and friends up to date with how your child and family are doing.  However, there are things to think about.

Posts about your child: things to think about

If you write about your child or post photos of him online, remember that the information can never be fully erased from the internet.  Others whom you do not know may have access to information you wish to keep private.  Child exploitation is a real concern.

For many reasons, when your child is a bit older, it is also important to find out how your child feels about the photos and information you share about him.

Talking with your child about posting and blogging

To start with, it’s always a good idea to ask your child if she’s happy for you to post a particular photo or video of her. Children as young as three can say whether they like a photo of themselves. If your child is too young to give a preference, just use your own judgment.

Even if your child is OK with you posting about her now, she might ask you to delete a photo or post of her in the future.  But remember that even when you delete photos, you can’t entirely remove them from the internet if other people have shared them.

By asking your child about his preferences and respecting those preferences, you’re modelling good digital etiquette for your child, which helps him become a good digital citizen.when he gets older.

Balancing privacy and sharing in blogs and posts about children: tips

If your child is OK with you sharing some information or images of her, it’s still a good idea to try to find a balance between protecting your child’s privacy and safety, and sharing your family life, especially on public sites.

Here are some tips:

  • Avoid mentioning your child’s name on advocacy sites or other public sites.
  • Avoid posting photos that might identify where your child lives or goes to school.
  • Avoid posting personal information that could identify your child, like date of birth or address.
  • Be aware that the photos you post could be modified and shared.
  • Use email or message apps to send photos to family and friends.
  • Create private ‘virtual family albums’ to share with close family and friends.

One of the most important things you can do is make sure that the images and information you post send a positive message about your child. For example, you might decide not to post a video of your child crying and choose something positive instead.