Monday, July 18, 2011

Baby's Online Presence

This seems to be a pretty controversial subject these days! How, when, or if you should post photos of your baby online, whether it be on facebook, your blog, google+, or any other social networking site. I am in no way judging what another mom does as right or wrong. I will just state how I handle this delicate situation, and honestly want to know what all of you think about it.
 I believe with the right privacy settings, there can be a safe way to share photos and video of your little one with your family and friends. But, where do you draw the line? Do you have photos of your baby on your public blog? Do you have photos on your facebook or other profile that are not private and only for friends to see? Do you enter your baby into cute baby contests and show their picture to the world?
My stance has been to have photos and video of baby M on my private blog and on my facebook and google+ page for invited friends and family members to see. Also, before I post photos of my friend's babies that I know do not want their baby to have an online presence (or if I am not sure of their stance), I ask for permission. On this public blog, I do not ever state her name or show a picture with her face. I have shown photos of her in her cloth diapers, but not with her face showing. It is so temping to want to show all of you my daughters AMAZINGLY ADORABLE face, trust me, you would all love her! But, I don't feel safe sharing her with people that I do not know personally. I also do not feel that it is fair to post her photos in places where she may come up in a google search and create an online presence for her before she has the chance to say whether or not she wants one. Is putting them up on my private sites even crossing the line then if I want her to have a choice in the matter? But, it is so fun to show her off and brag about how adorable she is. It's also a great way to give my mom and other people interested in the play by play of our life at home a little taste of all of the cute things that she does each day.
When I was pregnant, I shared a few ultrasound photos and pictures of my belly on my public blog. But, when baby was born, I changed that blog to private. Should I have done it even sooner and not have shown her ultrasound photos? I also had my blogger profile picture as a picture of me and M, and recently just changed it.
How do I handle it with other people who want to post photos of our babies together, or of themselves with my baby? Do I ask them to change their privacy settings and only let people know we both know see the photo? Do I ask them not to put the pictures up at all? Do I trust their judgement? This is something I am legitimately asking because I do not know how to handle this situation without offending anyone but continuing to protect my daughter in the way that I think she needs to be protected.

What is your stance on baby's online presence? Does your baby have one? Are your baby's photos public? Why did you decide to make the choice to keep baby's photos public or private?

16 comments:

Trainwreck said...

Following via GFC, found you on blog hops! :) http://thriftyninja.net

The How To Mommy said...

My babies faces are posted. They're too cute not to. :) I'm your newest follower from TAT blog hop. I'd love for you to come link up for my Tasty Thursday Recipe Swap Blog Hop. Plus I have a great giveaway starting tomorrow!
-The How To Mommy
http://www.thehowtomommy.com

Jessica @ Barefoot by the Sea said...

I try to have "hidden" pics of my girls - from the side, or fuzzy. It's hard though - I want to believe people are good but then again, the thought of some people...well, I guess it's just another Mama struggle!

Newest follower - great blog! Come visit me too!

www.barefootbysea.blogspot.com

Jessica

PhaseThreeOfLife said...

It's definitely an interesting debate. I think it boils down to your own comfort level and what you feel is appropriate for you and your family. I do show Ryan's picture on my public blog. But I'm careful to never identify exactly where we live or where he goes to daycare, etc. I think everyone has their own personal "line."

Following from the TAT blog hop! :)

Jamie said...

Hi I'm a new follower from Toddle Along Tuesday.

This IS a controversial topic and something I've thought a great deal about. As soon as my baby was born, she had an online presence. My Inlaws live 21000 miles away and I sent photos from my phone to my facebook from the hospital. I have over 600 friends on there but I really wanted to show her to my family and friends. I do make efforts to protect her identity, but her pictures are everywhere. It just seems to be the age we live in. You stated some reasons why it'd be difficult to keep her off all together. Other people have taken pictures of her - some that I don't even know that well (I do kind of have a problem with that)... I just don't think I'd be able to keep her off line.

I will be having many a talk with her about Internet safety when she's older!

Good post.

For Love of Cupcakes

Style, Decor & More said...

Thanks for hopping by! I'm already a follower of your sweet blog! I've never posted my kids' faces, but they are teens and we didn't have blogs when they were little. My sister has posted my kids along with her kids, but it doesn't really bother me. I wouldn't put my daughter with her full face on my blog because she's a young teen.

Renee Hand said...

I don't post my children's pictures on-line at all. I think too many people reveal too much about their children on-line. To each their own. Everyone uses their blogs differently. There is no right or wrong way, it really is a matter of preference and what people feel comfortable doing. I prefer not to share too much about my children.

I am following you from the hop. Please return the follow at http://thecryptocapersseries.blogspot.com
www.reneeahand.com
Thanks
Renee

NKubon said...

Following you back from Our Pregnancy Roadtrip :)

www.pregnancyroadtripandbeyond.com

daniii♥ said...

I post pictures of my daughter's face, but I don't refer to her by name on my blog or public facebook. I do refer to her by name on my private one though.

(visiting from TAT)

Anonymous said...

Hi.
Stopping by from the Tuesday Hop to say hello.
Have a great day!
POSH!
http://poshonabudget.com/2011/07/tuesday-friends-and-deals-hops.html

Monica said...

You are very wise not to show your daughter and create an online trail!
Visiting and following from the Good Friends Just Click blog hop.
Monica
http://oldermommystillyummy.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/OlderMommyStill
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Older-Mommy-Still-Yummy/173498892705144

Anonymous said...

I have a couple of pictures on my blog of my kids and have some on facebook for only invited friends to see. I don't post any identifying information and certainly nothing about where we live other than that I am in Canada. Why? Because I enjoy sharing some things about my kids and that sometimes includes pictures.

New follower from Totally Tuesday!

http://skinny-bean.blogspot.com

Sunithi Selvaraj, RD said...

I hav a nutrition blog , so dont really hav to post kid's pics,but even if i do .. my kids are grown 13 and 8 , so would have no prob with it being public... Think I wud be careful too if I had a baby. When mine were babes, social networking was not soo...
Following from Monday blog hop on GFC. Feel free to hop by my blog too :)

Jenny said...

Following you through the tuesday blog hop.

As of right now I have yet to make the crossover to adding pics of my children on my blog. It makes me slightly nervous. I have spoken to several other mommy bloggers and they have all given me great advice, so we will see what happens.
I do have pics of them on my personal facebook page.

Come visit me
www.whatsthemommybuzz.blogspot.com
www.sippycupchronicles.com

Thanks :)

TanyasTreasureTrove said...

Hi! Following you from a blog hop!:0)
Hope you visit me and return the follow!


Btw if you like please join the Treasure
Trove Tribune! I think you will enjoy
it!:0)

Create With Joy said...

Thanks so much for joining me at Create With Joy! I think it's really cool you used to work for Robert's Crafts & designed their giveaway program. I always enjoy my visits there!

I really think that whatever people do, they need to use common sense. I enjoy seeing photos and reading family stories on many of the sites I frequent, but I would never want to see a child's safety compromised because of it. Several sites who post children's photos use pseduonyms and I think that's wise.

The one pet peeve that I have - and I am posting it as a caution to those parents who simply have not thought about this - is DON'T post those "cute" n*ked baby pictures of your kids online (you know, shower shots and the like). There are a lot of sick people out there and you definitely don't want to be attracting those types to your site!!!

Anyway, great discussion question. Have a fabulous weekend!

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