Why I (finally) chose to post my kid's pictures on social media

It's a touchy subject to some people. I remember being against the idea of posting pictures on social media. I was about 8 months pregnant and I decided to have a talk with my closest friends and family about my choice to keep J's pictures off the internet. Unbeknownst to me, I was opening myself up to a much bigger debate among my friends. I had J a couple of years after some of my close friends started having babies. These educated (and opinionated) women had all already been putting their kids' pictures on some type of social media for years when I made my request, and I feel like some of them took it as if I were saying that it is a bad idea to put your children's pictures online. I wasn't. Actually, I could have cared less how many pictures of their own kid that they posted. 

That's the thing though. They were posting pictures of their own kids. Not mine. That's where my opinion on kids' pictures on social media comes in. I believe that it is up to the parents. I don't care what your stance is, but I believe that you are the deciding factor on when and what pictures of your children are shared on social media. 

I asked for my friends and family to keep my boy's pictures off the internet until I was ready to share him with the world.I had a caveat. I did not mean that I would never post his pictures. How on earth could I keep him to myself forever? He's just too cute! I meant that we wanted to keep him to ourselves for a little while before we posted. I just believed, and still do believe, that we should respect the intimacy and sanctity of some experiences..even in a world that revolves around likes, comments, and shares. The birth of a child falls under that category for me, and I was adamant that I wanted to only share that experience with family and close friends. 

I believe that it is the parents' right to decide whether or not to share their child's picture on the Internet. My request was met with opposition when I mentioned it to a few of my friends. "You know his pictures will be on there eventually!" "Why does it even matter?" "You can't protect him his whole life!" I also inadvertently offended some with my request to keep J's pictures offline. "Well, I have to put my kid's pictures online so my relatives can see him." "What's the big deal?" "It's not like I let the whole world see my pictures. I know how to use my privacy settings." 

Yes, yes, and yes! I knew all of that. I was aware of the beauty of having your relatives who live hours away be able to see your child grow through pictures. I understood that a lot of people don't see the point in taking a stance on social media. I see futility in the efforts of others to fight the technology revolution, too. I understand that I can't protect him his whole life. I just didn't want anyone to post pictures of my son on the Internet before I was ready. I felt as though the people who wanted to see him would bring theirselves up to the hospital and everyone else could wait. I'm a firm believer in the whole face-to-face communication thing. 

Weeks after J was born I finally decided to share his birth announcement on Facebook. I had kept him to myself for long enough, and I wanted to share him with my old friends, old classmates, and far away relatives. Pictures of him started as a trickle into social media and are now at a steady stream. Sometimes I just can't keep the über cuteness to myself. I still have relatives asking whether they can post pictures of him on social media; I always say yes, but I am ever grateful that they respect my authority as his mother to continue to ask.

Do I think we should keep our kids' pictures off of social media? Heck no. I'd probably never even glance at Facebook or Instagram if it wasn't for all of my friends' babies. I also don't think it's a poor parenting choice to put your brand new, fresh-out-of-the-womb baby's picture out there for the world. That was just a decision that I felt strongly about. 

I'm sure most of my readers fell in love with Miracle Molly the same way I did. Many of us would have known her and her story without the added benefit of regular updates via social media, but the fact that her mother shared their story with all of the world brought us all together in a way that would have never been possible before this technological age. She touched more lives than anyone will ever know, and she was able to do so at such a grand scale because of social media. I am grateful, as I'm sure many are, that her parents made the decision to share their story. Knowing what little that I do about them, I'd assume it wasn't a decision that was not reached lightly of without its fair share of prayer. It was a decision that they knew would bring glory to God and one that they knew was right for their family. 

That's all I'm saying. Whether you think it's right or it's wrong, it is the right decision as long as you are making it for the good of your family. So post those babies' pictures, or don't, whatever. 

2 John 1:12

Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.