# Posting the child's photos

**Should we post photos of our child online?**

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

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.

- Area: Screens, phones and digital life
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: During pregnancy
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/screens-phones-and-digital-life--posting-the-child-s-photos

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

1. **Nothing identifiable online**: You post nothing that shows the child's face or name.
2. **Private shared album**: Photos go into an album only invited family and friends can see.
3. **Public posts with faces hidden**: You post publicly but cover or crop the child's face.
4. **Private social account**: You post to an account only approved followers can see.
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:

- [AAP](https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/sharing-photos-and-videos-of-children-on-social-media/)
- [Mott Poll](https://mottpoll.org/reports-surveys/parents-social-media-likes-and-dislikes-sharenting)

## 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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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=screens-phones-and-digital-life&topic=screens-phones-and-digital-life--posting-the-child-s-photos