Children's pictures on Facebook? A delicate balancing act

On Facebook or other social media platforms such as Instagram, we often see pictures of children posted by their parents. The faces are often easy to recognise and it's not uncommon to see the children in «funny» - or rather embarrassing - situations. I always get a queasy feeling when I think about the fact that these children will reach puberty at some point and will then be confronted with photos like these.
There's no doubt about it: it's a balancing act. In my opinion, Reto Vogt, former digital editor at Migros magazine and father of five-year-old twins, is someone who does this with the right sense of proportion. He regularly shares pictures of his children on Facebook with his 1,100 or so followers. The pictures are always very emotional and authentic, but the children's faces have never been recognisable. «The right to the image belongs to the person depicted, regardless of whether they are a toddler or an adult,» he emphasises. Reto Vogt deals with this challenge very consciously. «I use stylistic means such as distance, blurring, light and shadow or objects to hide the children's faces or make them unrecognisable. I always try to remain spontaneous and convey the mood of the moment. I don't like staged children posing for Facebook at all.»

The right to one's own image

I like this approach: you share your family life because you enjoy your children and are proud of them. At the same time, you respect their personalities. Reto Vogt is also thinking about how he wants to tackle the issue in the future: «As soon as my children are old enough to understand the concept of the internet, I will discuss the pictures with them. When they are mature enough, it will be their decision whether or not they are depicted.»
It is the duty of parents to think about possible consequences early enough, because the internet never forgets. Reto Vogt shows us how to harmonise our own needs with the rights and demands of our children. And if this results in great pictures of happy family life: all the better.
On Medienstark you will find tips and interactive learning modules for the competent use of digital media in everyday family life. swisscom.ch/medienstark