Is your social media one endless scroll of baby pictures, first steps and snaps of birthday parties? Do you post pictures about every aspect of your child's life?
If so, you are not alone.
It is a phenomenon that has been dubbed 'sharenting' - the over sharing of images of your kids online. And it is more dangerous than you think.
But while sharing pictures of little ones exploring their new universe is completely ADORABLE (to you) - there is a bigger danger than simply embarrassing them or annoying others. The danger is that it could make them a potential target for child predators. A recent study found that roughly half of the material on certain websites had been sourced from parents innocently posting images of their children online.
But if you are keen to show off your little one to friends and family online you should at least take the following precautions:
1. No bath pictures
2. Don't share details of their birthday.
3. Avoid posting private details like their school or middle names
4. No potty pictures (they will kill you when they are older!)
5. No fodder for bullying in the future
Mum, Alexia Purcell, decided to take drastic action when it came to this issue - and she has come under attack for her choices.
The journalist wrote an opinion piece that has prompted many of us to reflect on where these photos end up, and the damage that could be done.
She banned her child's school from taking ANY photos of her child - even to distribute among other parents.
"Say the school takes a photo of my son and another child playing. They use the photo in the report they send to that other child's parents. That other child's parents then think 'hey, what a great pic, I'll save that and share it on Facebook'. And just like that, my son's photo is out there on social media without my consent or knowledge to end up God knows where."
She goes on to say she is not judging anyone else if they want to post photos of their children online, but she is hypervigilant - even if it creates everyday difficulties:
"There have been occasions where we've been at say a show. My son is jumping on a jumping castle. There are other kids on the jumping castle so their parents start taking photos and filming them. Fine. But the issue is my son is in those photos and videos. And what are they going to do with them? Where do they end up?
I don't know. I honestly don't know. And this absolutely terrifies me."
Alexia asks her readers what she should do about an upcoming event where all the children will be part of a parade with parents taking pictures:
"How will I feel when he's involved in say the Easter Bonnet parade and all the parents are there filming it? Horrified. Sick to my stomach. I'd rather he didn't participate."
This is uncharted territory: the Internet is far from the yellowing photographs we have from our own childhood and we, as parents, have to take that into account.
Do you think this is an over-reaction or a sensible approach in light of the times we find ourselves in? We would love to hear your take on it.
