Instagram for kids

If you have an Instagram account for your babies or plan to have one, I want you to think twice before doing it. Most of us are immature and innocent and follow the trend without being fully aware that some things we share on the internet might be bad for us and our loved ones in many ways.

I want to point out a few reasons why sharing too much about kids online is not a good idea.

Consent

When sharing personal details, pictures and day-to-day activities of your kids online, you are creating a personally identifiable permanent digital footprint of them whether they like it or not. I feel that kids should have a right to their digital privacy, as some of these details or fame might change events in their lives the way they don't want them to be, and they might not even be able to change it.

Safety

Everyone wants to safeguard and protect their kids as they love them, and it's their duty, and they are responsible for the kid's safety. Predators, stalkers, and paedophiles are all over the internet. It's an easy way to get the information, so please don't be the one who provides it. I heard some parents sharing full names, locations, school names, bus timings, activities, and everything on social media that can become a huge safety concern. If not, the photo you thought was cute might expose your kids to bullies.

Misuse

The photos you share can be misappropriated and reused, or others use them for commercial purposes without your knowledge. Do not think that just because you have a private account, you can control who gets access to the photos.

Comparison

Based on the DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, and Center for Research on Individual Development and Adaptive Education of Children at Risk (IDeA) paper demonstrating that upward social comparison, comparing with people we consider to be socially better off is associated with reduced well-being such as lower life satisfaction or more depressive symptoms. The better the lives of others on social media, the worse we feel. Many parents compare parenting standards and doubt themselves. Many feel depressed when they get fewer likes on their baby's pictures. This is not only bad for your mental health but also affects the child's well-being in the long term.

Discomfort

How much time do you spend getting the right picture with perfect lighting? How many photos are you taking? And how much time are you editing and trying to make it the best? And are you doing this for fun or for likes and comments? Taking a few pictures on occasion is good, but when we fall into the trap of being emotionally attached to the engagement of our posts, we might end up causing discomfort to our loved ones by unconsciously forcing them to do things that they don't want to do.

Some parents might be doing this for commercial reasons, I don't have a say in it. But if you are doing it as everyone else doing it or for making a digital album and sharing it with close friends and family. I recommend sharing on an end-to-end encrypted channel like Signal.

The above applies if you only post photos of your children to your personal account, and you shouldn't feel a false sense of protection. I focused on sperate account, as this means you plan to share a lot.

Always ask yourself if it is needed or worth the attention and virtual fame before posting anything about your babies online. Stay safe.