RaMa Mama Doula Share: The Pros and Cons of "Sharenting"...

Sharenting (sharing + parenting) is the practice of putting baby pictures online. This topic has very strong emotions attached to it on both sides of the argument. In this digital age of social media and the world wide web, there are reasons for and against sharing baby pictures online. Let's explore this topic further...

Having a baby is a life-changing experience that brings so much excitement. It can become difficult to hold back the desire to share this excitement with the world. New parents seek social support, have a strong pull to share milestones with distant relatives, or just want to connect with other parents to share experiences and challenges. Posting regular pictures of a new child can also help in keeping an online baby book that documents their growth and development without losing any images or costing any money. There are so many reasons why parents turn to sharing pictures of their children online, and some people believe there is nothing wrong with it.

The other side to this joyful act of sharing is that the child will grow up one day and will have missed the opportunity to make the decision on whether or not they wanted their baby pictures posted online. Babies cannot give their consent, and they may feel embarrassed or even traumatized by what their family members have shared with the public as they grow older. The internet is also a place of both Light and dark. There are people with bad intentions online who steal photographs and use them for nefarious reasons. Whether they are used for facial recognition, child pornography, stolen commercial profiles, or to troll the family as an online predator, there are land mines online that a lot of people try to avoid. Baby pictures, unfortunately, are stolen and used on the dark web. This is a very dangerous outcome born out of a very innocent intention, and it deserves cautionary action.

If privacy is an issue, there is always selective sharing with personally curated groups of family and friends. There is no public announcements, but instead it offers a safe space to put special pictures and videos that are shared with specific people in a protected environment. This is a wonderful alternative to posting online. As the baby grows into a young adult, they can make their own decisions to either share or keep their baby pictures private. It is important that we don't take away each other's right to choose what is best for us. It is also crucial that we are safe online and don't fall into any traps that bate us into doing things that are not in our best interest. Always follow the heart and listen to the guidance that has the best and highest good in mind for all involved. Love can be expressed in so many different ways, but social media and other major platforms online might not be the best choice for everyone. Each of us should have the choice to decide what we think is best for us and our families. It is the roll and responsibility of every parent to honor and protect the needs of their children, no matter what the topic may be or how that topic may be interpreted. What side of this conversation do you find yourself on?