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Posting the child's photos

Whether you share photos or videos of your child online and with whom, from nothing identifiable to a private album to open posting.

Should we post photos of our child online?

In short: Parents choose between 5 main approaches: Nothing identifiable online; Private shared album; Public posts with faces hidden; Private social account; Open posting; rules for relatives; ask the child from a set age. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: during pregnancy.

Evidence
Your call
Best settled
During pregnancy
Part of
Learning & the wider world

Posting the child's photos: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 5 approaches.

  1. 1. Nothing identifiable online

    You post nothing that shows the child's face or name.

  2. 2. Private shared album

    Photos go into an album only invited family and friends can see.

  3. 3. Public posts with faces hidden

    You post publicly but cover or crop the child's face.

  4. 4. Private social account

    You post to an account only approved followers can see.

  5. 5. Open posting; rules for relatives; ask the child from a set age

    You post freely. You also decide what relatives may post, and from what age the child gets a say.

Posting the child's photos: what does the evidence say?

Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

AAP lists location disclosure, data collection and the child's later embarrassment as risks; 68% of parents worry about children's privacy

Sources

What else is worth knowing?

Photos posted online can be copied and are hard to remove, and a child cannot consent when small. Some parents post nothing; others share within a private group. You also need to tell relatives what they may post.

Questions to ask each other

  • How do we feel about photos of our child online?
  • Who may post photos of our child, and what is the rule for relatives?
  • What would our child want, when they are old enough to say?

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First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.