A chilling story is making headlines: A 27-year-old graduate student was caught creating artificial child exploitation images using pictures of real kids found online. Even more horrifying? He was taking custom requests. This unsettling case has left many parents questioning how to protect their children’s privacy, especially in the age of social media.
It’s perfectly okay to not want pictures of your kids online. After all, the internet is a hunting ground for some truly scary people. On top of that, big companies like Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company) use publicly shared photos to train artificial intelligence. The rules and laws around this are far from catching up, so it’s up to parents to set boundaries and protect their children.
How to Talk to Friends and Family About Posting Photos
It’s never easy asking people not to share pictures of your kids, especially when you don’t want to sound overly protective or preachy. But you can handle it gracefully by setting expectations early. Here’s how:
1. Frame it as a personal choice.
This isn’t about criticizing how others do things—it’s about what feels right for your family. Use “I” or “we” statements instead of making it sound like a rule for everyone.
2. Explain your reasoning.
If someone asks why, you can share your concerns about privacy or even mention the risks you’ve read about. If that feels too much, just say it’s for safety.
3. Be polite but firm.
Make it clear you don’t want any wiggle room on this.
4. Address it privately.
Instead of bringing it up in a group setting, have a one-on-one conversation. This makes it less awkward and more personal.
Here’s an example you can tweak:
“Hey, just a heads-up—we’re keeping photos of the kids off social media for privacy reasons. If you could avoid posting any, we’d really appreciate it!”
What If Someone Already Posted?
No need to overreact. Just send a quick message like this:
“Hey, I forgot to mention we’re keeping the kids’ photos offline for now. Would you mind taking that post down or re-sharing it with their faces blurred or covered? Thanks so much!”
Safer Ways to Share Photos
Not posting on social media doesn’t mean you can’t share memories with loved ones. A private photo-sharing album is a great alternative. Here’s how you can set it up:
With Google Photos:
- Open the app or website, choose your pictures, and create a shared album.
- Send the album via email or private link, but keep the “Link Sharing” option off for extra security.
With Apple Photos:
- Enable Shared Albums under your iCloud settings.
- Create an album, add your photos, and invite family or friends to view it privately.
Why This Matters
Keeping your kids off the public internet is about more than just privacy. It’s about safeguarding their future, their safety, and their innocence. In a world where technology moves faster than the rules can catch up, a little extra caution goes a long way.
