LISTEN: What is the etiquette around posting pictures of other people’s children online?

While some parents are eager to update social media about their bundle of joy, what are the rules around posting pictures of other people’s children online? 

Anele and The Club talk more about it on 947 Breakfast.

(Skip to 1:20 for this one) 

In the same way that deciding to post pictures of your child on social media is your personal choice, so too is the case for other parents. 

While we may be quick to want to share cute encounters online, practice caution when it comes to other people’s children, family and friends included.   

“We have to reach an age where if you are going to take pictures of other people’s kids, you must ask ‘may I post this?’" 

– Anele Mdoda

Frankie says it’s something he avoids at all accounts, even when it comes to his friends.

There are several concerns about security, such as the case of posting first-day-of-school pictures with your kid proudly showing off the name of the school they attend.

But there is also the chance that people could use your child’s pictures inappropriately, warns Thembekile. 

“If you’ve been on the internet long enough, people take pictures of children and use them as memes and reactions but some of the tweets are inappropriate.”

– Thembekile Mrototo

For Cindy, it’s the other way around where she’s asked her kids to stop posting photos of her or at least give her pre-approval rights.

Listeners also shared their experiences and rules:

“You need to get my permission… a lot can happen, people steal kids out there.”

– Listener

“I’ve been working with children for 20 years… children are a vulnerable population and we also don’t know if a child really understands what is the long-term consequence if I give consent… how is that going to impact that child’s life in 10 years when he has to find a job?”

– Listener

“My ex-husband’s girlfriend posted my (young) son’s picture with him almost nude… so I told her to take it down, she refused so I went to the police and I laid a charge against them… she still refused then, so he had to intervene.”

– Listener

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion