Children's pictures on the www

[Naomi]

Given the nature of my blog, this is something I think about occasionally. I am careful not to post nudie rudie shots or anything like that but I do also sometimes wonder if I am being security conscious enough. I know my husbands family overseas love to see pictures of our children as they grow up and I'd hate not to be able to share with them.

What are your thoughts?

[tianakaesha]

My thoughts are there are going to be sickos out there everywhere - whether we post the pics on the internet or not, our children could be exposed to someone in the playground or snapped with a long range lens.

I don't post explicit photos on the blog, but am happy to post her pics and such. I mean, I let her run around the playground naked, showing her face on the WWW is not too much of a concern...

[Leigh]

I have been posting pics of my kids online for about 8yrs. It has never worried me much, and like Kristie, I believe there is more danger IRL than on the net.

[Riayn]

That is a very interesting question you have raised Naomi. I think there is no danger is posting your kids' pictures on the internet. However, I would be careful not to have too many identifying details on your site like the full names of the kids, the school they go to, exactly where you live etc.
I know many bloggers make up nicknames for their kids to give them some added privacy.

[Leigh]

Forgot to mention, while I don't mind that I post pictures of my kids on my blog or sites, some people may not. I am careful not to post pictures that contain other peoples children from school concertsm sporting events etc, unless I have asked them first.

I think it is really important for people to consider other peoples privacy.

[Naomi]

I agree Leigh ... I don't post any pictures of other people's children (or other people). I actually got a bit of a shock when I came across my children's pictures someone else had posted - obviously not that I minded *too* much because I post pictures myself, but I think it would have been polite to ask me if they could use the pictures.

Thanks Riayn - I generally do not use any identifying information other than first names, and certainly nothing too specific.

[katef]

I am with Kristie (*waves* - hey fancy meeting you here!) I am not too bothered about posting picks of my kids on the blog. I am pretty careful not to make it easy for anyone to find us 'in real life' - no full names, no address or anything like that... and since my inlaws all read my blog I am pretty careful not to say anything about anyone that might bite me on the bum.

I am also really careful about posting photos of other people, kids especially and always ask permission.

one thing I have been thinking about recently thought.. is as my kids get older.. will they hate me for blogging about them? Will they be terribly embarrassed that I blogged about them wetting their pants in the fish and chip shop when they were three? Will I have to stop blogging about them when they get to be a certain age? I am guessing in a few years they would rather I didn't share every detail of their life on the net for everyone to see... then what will I blog about????

Kate

[Naomi]

one thing I have been thinking about recently thought.. is as my kids get older.. will they hate me for blogging about them? Will they be terribly embarrassed that I blogged about them wetting their pants in the fish and chip shop when they were three? Will I have to stop blogging about them when they get to be a certain age? I am guessing in a few years they would rather I didn't share every detail of their life on the net for everyone to see... then what will I blog about????


Oh yes, I wonder this too, a lot lately as my 3 yr old starts pre-school next year so I guess potentially school friends/parents of school friends could read the blog and know more about him than he's told them (if that makes any sense??!) I realise this is not going to happen at 3, but at some point, the whole "going to pre-school" thing is just a reminder that he is growing up and expanding his life. I don't think I've written anything particularly embarrassing, but I guess there is a point when it will need to be his choice to have the pictures, the stories out there.

[Leigh]

This is something I have wondered about. I don't really post too much (tho it is something I am looking to work on in the NY) I have worried about what the ramifications might be in 10+yrs.

I think over all tho, if you are careful a blog can be a wonderful family memory.

[Megan]

Ummmm, some interesting thoughts all round here, and it is a very important topic so thanks for raising this Naomi.

Let me start with, I am a dreadful worry wart about children's safety (it's my job to worry and I've seen what can happen!).

The beauty of having your children's pics online is that your children become known to other regular readers, safe people, all over the world. In the extreme cases of child abduction, your kid already has a presence and a wider network of people who will keep an eye out for them. This can only be a good thing.

I love the technology of being able to take a pic and have it loaded on the net within minutes. How helpful for up to the minute profiles - take the Madeline McCann case. If those parents did not have so many photographs at the ready, the subtle changes between Madeline with long and shorter hair would have been lost, as would have the fantastic shot of her running pupil.

What we must all be very mindful of is publishing personal knowledge of where our kids school, play, live, etc, etc. I do not think we should use their real names. Pedophiles are very clever and the combination of info and real name can give them way too much info on our kids and make it easier to target and groom our babies.

I kept a personal blog of our homeschooling experiences. We began by only ever having half pics of "Boy". After a while he grew bored of this and agreed to full face pics. I NEVER used his name though. I also used to consult with him as to whether I could put particular info on the web. If he said he didn't want our latest fight talked about, I respected his wishes.

I do life story work with kids in care. It is so important to have memory joggers and correct history...but, in Life story work (particularly when its done in scrap book top loading albums) info can be hidden and bought back out when the child is ready.

I don't know about those embarrassing moments that our kids may hate us for in years to come. I guess we just need to be mindful that before long, they may well be blogging about us and all the embarrassing and cranky things we do. Our sins may well be visited upon us. God forbid, I think I may have to leave town now!

In a nutshell, I think that the rules of respect prevail but that child protection always comes first.

Just so you all know, I watch out for dubious sex predator behaviour, particularly on my friends sites. I have recently referred two sickos straight to the Federal Police. I have a nose for picking them after almost 20 years of working with child sexual assault.

[Naomi]

Thanks for your reply Megan, I was particularly interested to read what you wrote and you've given me food for thought. It's not so much I'm concerned about the information provided on the blog as such, but I do think if someone was diligent enough they could probably link up a lot of other information about me/my family from elsewhere on the WWW. I am a lot more cautious than I used to be with what I post, but I'm sure there are still little bits and pieces around.

[DeborahR]

I wouldn't post any pics of your kids unclothed on the internet. The Australian Federal Police just arrested a dozen guys involved in child pornography so you have to be mindful that these predators are out there. It must also be remembered that once something is posted on the internet it never really disappears even if you take it down from your website because others have had the opportunity to copy it.

It is unfortunate you can't post these pics for family and friends to view online. But that's the world we are living in at the moment. I would stick to the traditional method of making copies and sending them to family/friends through the post.

[Leigh]

Maybe just me, but I am not really into taking naked pics in the first place.

If you are stupid enough to be posting nekkid pics of your kids online, you really don't deserve to be using a computer.

[Naomi]

Maybe just me, but I am not really into taking naked pics in the first place.
No, I'm the same. I wouldn't want a photo of me naked, so I don't take them of my kids.

[katef]

ah well you guys obviously have children who wear clothes.. unlike me! LOL

I have loads and loads and LOADS of photos of my kids naked as they very rarely wear clothes..and if they do it is usually only gumboots and a crown LOL But despite the fact that I think they are gorgeous photos, and despite the fact that I have The perfect photo of my kids three bare bums for my blog header... they aren't going up on the net anywhere... for their safety and out of respect.

Kate