Do I blog about my baby online? Do I share my baby's photos with my circle of friends online? The answer is yes. Why? Here's why: Like so many other parents, I want to let the world know that I have given birth to the smartest, cutest, handsomest, yada yada yada baby in the world.
Why do we share stuff about our kids online?
Why do we share stuff about our kids online?
The underlying factor - as highlighted by PBSParents.com - is this: social media has triggered an onslaught of parental insecurities. INSECURITIES. Ouch. This is somewhat similar to what I'm thinking: "I think I'm doing a good job raising my kids… but let me find out for certain [by sharing on] Facebook."
This explanation, by psychotherapist Nathan Gehlert, summarizes us, the parents perfectly, "In many ways, we're biologically wired to promote our children, and the Internet and social media provides a convenient and effective way to do this."
Apart from Facebook, blogging is another way for a new mom like me to share about motherhood and baby stuff. Technically speaking, I'm not really a mom blogger because I don't blog about my baby every single day. So far, I have blogged about my birth story, breastfeeding journey, and bits and pieces of my baby's growth and milestones.
Reasons NOT to over-share stuff about our kids online
#1: Privacy, consent & safety issues
When we blog or post our kids' photos online, we might be violating their privacy and safety. We must always be vigilant not to post (even if it is unintentional) any indication of date of birth, place of birth, full name, or tagging of any photographs with a geographical location – basically anything that could be used by somebody who wanted to steal your kid's identity. It's dangerous!
About the issue of consent, what type of information would your kids want to see about themselves online in 20 years' time?
Heather Mann, a mother said, "As parents, we're the custodians of our children's personal privacy until they are old enough to take over. Just because I am interested in sharing personal details of my life online doesn't mean my child will be."
#2: It's difficult to erase digital footprint
TheGuardian, in an article, highlights this: "Every time you post about your child on social media you are helping to create for them a data-rich, enduring and potentially problematic online profile."
Once you post something on cyberspace, it's most likely that it will stay there forever. It's phenomenally difficult to have zero digital footprint. If one day you decide to delete all your kids' photos, you will find doing so almost impossible.
Even if you don't post anything at all, (which is quite unlikely, agree?) can you guarantee that your friends won't tag your kids' photos? (Of course you can request to remove the tags but it's still a violation.)
#3: Over-sharing is not caring
This is my personal opinion. The saying goes, sharing is caring. I agree. But, over-sharing is not. Over-sharing is a sign of a few things: addicted to attention and crowd affirmation, insecurities (as mentioned in the intro paragraph above), showing off (which comes from the need to promote well-being), and depressed (motherhood is not a bed of roses).
How do I limit sharing stuff about my baby?
This explanation, by psychotherapist Nathan Gehlert, summarizes us, the parents perfectly, "In many ways, we're biologically wired to promote our children, and the Internet and social media provides a convenient and effective way to do this."
Apart from Facebook, blogging is another way for a new mom like me to share about motherhood and baby stuff. Technically speaking, I'm not really a mom blogger because I don't blog about my baby every single day. So far, I have blogged about my birth story, breastfeeding journey, and bits and pieces of my baby's growth and milestones.
Reasons NOT to over-share stuff about our kids online
#1: Privacy, consent & safety issues
When we blog or post our kids' photos online, we might be violating their privacy and safety. We must always be vigilant not to post (even if it is unintentional) any indication of date of birth, place of birth, full name, or tagging of any photographs with a geographical location – basically anything that could be used by somebody who wanted to steal your kid's identity. It's dangerous!
About the issue of consent, what type of information would your kids want to see about themselves online in 20 years' time?
Heather Mann, a mother said, "As parents, we're the custodians of our children's personal privacy until they are old enough to take over. Just because I am interested in sharing personal details of my life online doesn't mean my child will be."
#2: It's difficult to erase digital footprint
TheGuardian, in an article, highlights this: "Every time you post about your child on social media you are helping to create for them a data-rich, enduring and potentially problematic online profile."
Once you post something on cyberspace, it's most likely that it will stay there forever. It's phenomenally difficult to have zero digital footprint. If one day you decide to delete all your kids' photos, you will find doing so almost impossible.
Even if you don't post anything at all, (which is quite unlikely, agree?) can you guarantee that your friends won't tag your kids' photos? (Of course you can request to remove the tags but it's still a violation.)
#3: Over-sharing is not caring
This is my personal opinion. The saying goes, sharing is caring. I agree. But, over-sharing is not. Over-sharing is a sign of a few things: addicted to attention and crowd affirmation, insecurities (as mentioned in the intro paragraph above), showing off (which comes from the need to promote well-being), and depressed (motherhood is not a bed of roses).
How do I limit sharing stuff about my baby?
#1: Be vigilant with what photos to post
I don't post my baby's face on my blog (which is open to public). If I
have to post, I use photos that don't show his face clearly. For other
social media networking tools, I control who can view when I upload his photos. Another thing, I don't post compromising and embarrassing photos.
#2: Don't be too detailed
I don't blog about my baby's every single development on a daily basis. I think that's overbearing; it's just my personal preference. I go by less is more. And of course, being a working mom, I prefer sleeping if I have some spare time to kill.
#3: Be careful when posting to Facebook open groups
As much as I want to post photos of myself breastfeeding to the
breastfeeding network Facebook group or my baby eating like a champ to the
healthy food for my baby Facebook group, I don't do so because these two groups are open groups. Any Tom-Dick-and-Harry in cyberspace can view the uploaded photos and do whatever they want with them! Gosh! What if a pervert downloads the photos? Child porn is not a myth.
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If you want to share a piece of your mind, feel free to comment in the comments section below.
Thanks for reading.
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If you want to share a piece of your mind, feel free to comment in the comments section below.
Thanks for reading.
Read more:
- Do We Reveal Too Much About Our Kids Online?
- Does sharing photos of your children on Facebook put them at risk?
- Five reasons NOT to share pictures of your kids online
- 5 Things You Should Never Post on Facebook
- Instagram and Kids: A parent's guide to privacy and safety
- Comparitech: latest useful guides and information regarding net security, privacy and antivirus information
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