It’s hard to believe Facebook didn’t even exist ten years ago. It seems everyone has a profile these days. Whether you’re a 13-year-old chatting with her friends about homework, a businessman doing networking, or a grandma oohing and ahhing over the latest pictures of her grandchildren, Facebook has something for everyone.
I use Facebook as a means to keep in instant contact with my family and friends. When your closest immediate family member lives states away, easy communication is a must. Uploading pictures is simple, and everyone can easily see new and updated pictures of my daughter. Facebook is a great way for me to organize playdates with other young moms, and get advice on parenting.
As wonderful as Facebook is, there are some safety precautions. No matter how strict your privacy settings are, people are still able to share your private photos on their own Facebook page or, even worse, save your photos to their personal computers.
For this reason, I’m very selective with what photos I of my daughter I put on Facebook. To be more specific, my rule is, “No Naked Pictures Allowed.”
I realize that naked baby pictures are usually completely innocent. There’s nothing more adorable than a baby’s chubby, bare little toosh, and nothing more hilarious than bathtub pictures. I love the pictures my mother took of me when I was a naked youngster, and I love seeing similar pictures of my nieces of nephews. My husband and I take pictures of our daughter in the nude, but they stay in our photo albums or, occasionally, get emailed privately to family members.
Before I had children, I didn’t think it was a big deal to have naked baby pictures be public. I see similar sentiments in family and friends who do not yet have their own children. I’ve spoken with several people who have snapped photos of my daughter during diaper changes or after bath time and specifically told them to keep the photos off Facebook. Sometimes I ask that they wait until diaper or bath time is over before taking photos. Most people are understanding, some get offended, but the rule stands.
Maybe I am overreacting. I don’t go into a panic when I think about a naked picture of my baby being on the internet, but I’d rather play it safe and keep images like that private and in the family.
Come to think of it, it’s not only the posting of naked photos of my daughter that bothers me. When friends and family post photos of my baby, fully clad, on Facebook without checking with me first, it also occasionally bothers me. Call me crazy, but I’d like to give my consent before a photo of my child is released onto the internet.
What’s your policy on photos of your baby on Facebook?