Why I try not to post photos of my child

I've been meaning to write this for a long time. I'm just not sure how I should start, especially since I am pretty sure I might offend a group of parents. Good thing no one really comes by so here it goes.

The title of this entry should probably read "Why I try not to post photos of my child (that shows her face) on social media".  Because I still DO post photos of J, but mainly of her feet and her legs and her side profile. 

You see, I'm tempted too. 

I'm tempted to put up photos of J when she hits a new milestone. 

Or when she gives the sweetest smile.

Or her cheekiest grin.

Or her in adorable clothes.

Or awkward poses that leaves my tummy aching from all the laughing. 

But I just can't. Not with her face, at least.

The huge momma-pride in me still wants to share though, so that explains the back view, the feet, the arms....

I'd love to post photos of her too. And take part in baby photo competitions. Or try my luck for her to be a brand rep on Instagram. Have you seen those wee ones? They are adorable.

BUT...!

I cannot compromise her privacy. 

She's a baby now, yes. But when she grows, does she want to find out that Mommy has posted photos of her in that inappropriate pose? We may decide to delete her photos in future but those stay on the www. Everything stays. It just doesn't get deleted completely, permanently.

I cannot compromise her safety. 

Imagine my horror when I saw, one day, comments on a popular account saying that user XXX have been grabbing photos of their children and posting on his feed, without their parents' permissions. That person may not have malicious intentions but what makes us so sure? Once it's up on the Internet, it's there. Even if your Facebook or Instagram accounts are private.. It's still there.

It can get used without your knowledge.

Have you seen Internet memes with children's photos? I admit that some are really hilarious. But I'm also rather sure that not all are used with the parents' permission. Would I want to come across a meme one day and realise that it's my child?

And if you really need convincing that anyone can use your photo without your knowledge, read this article.

Have you also read those articles about how unsafe it is if your photos are geo-tagged?

It's just not safe.

It's very common now, you know. To have everything published on social media.

"I just ate."

"I just baked."

"My kid is here doing this."

"Look at her!"

We get so absorbed in the social media world that we forget to filter what needs to be known to others and what don't. I get that momma-envy when I see such photos on Instagram, and I get this close to succumbing to post J's adorable little face on the Internet. (Yes, she is adorable. Because which mother doesn't think her child(ren) are the cutest?) 

But I know I shouldn't.

How can I make a compromise just for that few moments of (my) joy? Some may disagree. I have no issue with sharing our babies' photos. But I do think that in our eagerness to share, we sometimes forget what actually is important. Joy vs safety.

We also get so eager to take that picture-perfect photo that we forget to enjoy the actual moment, that could be perfect, even though it's not picture-perfect.

*

Do we really want to post up that photo?

Food for thought. 

I'd still love to post up photos of J but maybe I'll stick to her arms, and legs, and back profile.