DH and I had a huge discussion about Facebook and posting pictures of our child on it. We came to the conclusion of not putting our child's picture on Facebook and not really mentioning the pregnancy on it either. We are both really concerned with privacy (our facebooks are like Fort Knox and really hard to find), because our families aren't nearly as secure with how they use social networking. We also decided that our child should be allowed to decide their own Internet presence.
A couple friend of ours is making a private shutterfly page to share pictures and have really strict rules about what is posted about their soon to be born little one. She hasn't mentioned pregnancy once on FB, but has on her blog - she blogs for income and posted about craft projects. We are planning on doing this also.
Has anyone else done this? Considered it? Or are we just nuts and we need to accept the Internet.
Re: Curiosity - Facebook and babies
I posted about my pregnancy and I post pictures and updates of Ava Nichol constantly. I use it to update our family that lives far away but I also have friends on there. My page is very private but I know family isn't quite as private as me. I have accepted that her pictures and updates may go to people that I don't know or that I might not want them to. This is why I don't post certain things like when we moved, when we got a new car and stuff like that. To me it seems harmless that a stranger may see her picture or hear about how she got a tooth or rolled over for the first time. I also did not post about her hospital visit and seizures on there...it just seemed too personal and I called everyone i felt needed to know. I also didn't post about my pre term labor just the fun not so personal stuff ya know.
So basically what I am saying is that I post tons of pictures and updates but never anything I would consider too personal. I censor it basically. I do no naked/diaper/bath pics and nothing embarassing just cute pictures and mostly milestones for updates.
My question is, out of genuine curiosity, what is the harm in strangers or others seeing pictures of your kid?
Our Little Raspberry-Born 3/27/12
We Said I Do 09/06/09
We're just really private people and I work in mental health so, I'm in general super careful with everything I post, even on my own Facebook I'm super diligent about not posting a lot of stuff. DH works for a large bank and is also super careful.
We have a lot of friends that post EVERYTHING - including naked bath tub pictures and potty training pictures. It drives me crazy!
We may just be nuts!
DH's job is very sensitive. We decided to go ahead and use facebook though because of how far away we are from out family and friends. The way we have it set up in only our friends can see our pictures. We don't let anyone else post pictures of him and if they want to "share" it from our page go ahead- they don't realize it but our pages are set up so even if they share the picture only people that are mutual friends can see it anyways.
Its actually a very personal decision though and what is right for one person isn't always what is best for another! GL
Congrats to my TTC buddies Amberley18 and tdmd09!
After 25 months- medicated cycles and a failed IUI- The most planned surprise baby ever is on his way!
I don't think you're nuts. It's smart to be cautious. I will be posting pictures because its the easiest way to keep my grandparents, aunts and cousins in the loop, so to speak. If I just had friends and no family on there, it would be a little different.
Like wiggy said, my profile is set to private, only my friends can see pictures I post, not even friends of friends can. The only thing a stranger can see is my profile picture. I also don't put where I live. I think the benefits outweigh the risks in my case, so Im not too worried.
Everyone is different though, and you need to do what you're comfortable with and what you feel is right for your family. I don't think there's a wrong or right here.
We don't have facebook but we made strict rules to our families and friends that they can't post pics of our daughter. Unfortunately, many don't follow those rules so I'm very selective with how I share pics. Sometimes they post pics they take of her and I don't know how to completely stop that.
I am also very private so I don't like my personal business out there. My DH is anti pics on the net because he works in the industry and knows that anything that's on facebook or any photo application is their property. If they want to use your kid's pic for PR or whatever they can. Imagine Gerber using your babe's pic without your consent and they reaping the benefits. Not to mention people are constantly stealing pics and doing who knows what with them. In a nut shell, you ain't crazy. In fact, I hope more people get the healthy paranoia going and shut down the man
ETA: Fixed typos due to posting from my phone.
BFP #1 - 11/16/10 CP 12/1/10
BFP #3 Chart
My husband was hardcore against posting any pictures of L on the internet anywhere. He had three reasons: 1) some websites will use your images without your knowledge/permission (sometimes it says they can do it in the terms and agreements that no one ever reads) and he doesn't want L's photo exploited, 2) websites could be hacked and images stolen, and 3) he feels L should be able to choose how much of himself to put on the internet, which he obviously can't do right now.
We didn't discuss my pregnancy on FB much mostly because I've had losses and know how much pregnancy-related stuff can hurt, but we didn't post u/s photos for the reasons above. When L was born DH texted a few photos to our family and a few of them ended up on FB. He didn't ask them to take the pics down because our families were excited and we figured a few were okay. But none have been put up since then. I'm mostly sharing pics with family through text because I mostly take L's pics on my phone so it's most convenient, but I would also like to set up an email list.
Personally I'm not as paranoid as DH about the internet and I think a password protected album on shutterfly or similar would be fine, but he disagrees strongly with me, so I'm begrudgingly respecting his wishes. My FB profile pic is a photo of me with only the top of L's head visible, and my pic here only has his feet. That's kind of our compromise -- no distinguishing features.
Congrats to both my TTC buddies, Amberley18 and sb2006 on their beautiful babies!
I am really private to start with. I only have about 30 friends on my facebook and they are close family and friends.
That all being said, with the privacy settings, I think I would be ok with sharing photos, but I don't know if I would. I don't share much to begin with on Facebook.
I do, however, love the idea of starting a shutterfly page that you can email and share with family/friends that way.
For me, it's to each their own. What's right for me isn't right for everyone else and I also don't disagree with people who are fine with sharing stuff.
After awhile, you just want to be with the one who makes you laugh. - Mr. Big
We share photos of L on Facebook, Instagram, and my blog. I don't do any naked pics, and diaper pics are limited. I also watermark as much as possible. We have our Facebook albums set to Friends only. We're not incredibly private people, and our families live enough distance that this makes it easier to keep in touch.
It's a personal decision. Obviously there are people who have no problem putting naked pictures of their kids, or pictures of their babies poopy diapers or puke for the world to see.
my blog