Why do mothers place pictures of their children on the internet?

Question

It never ceases to shock me, how in this day and age of child predators being at an all time high, that I continuously see mothers plastering photos of their children all over their web pages, blogs, dating profiles, etc.

This wouldn't bother me so much if mothers put their kids' pictures in private albums, where only someone with a password or personal invitation could view them. But nope... most of the time, moms just slap their kids pictures all over anyplace on the internet. Another odd aspect of this phenomenon is that mom will put up maybe only one or two photos of herself, and twenty photos of her kids! What is up with that? "Mom," especially if you're on a dating site, the members are there to see YOU, not your children. Yes, we get that you are a package deal. You don't have to put up two dozen photos of your child to get that point across to us.

What is wrong with these women? What in the world are they hoping to accomplish by showing the entire world their kid(s)?

I know children are mom's pride and joy. That's fine. What is not fine is PUBLICLY trophying the little ones on your personal web pages.

Are any women out here in agreement with me on this entire issue?

Answer 1

I have to say I do agree with you....but yes I do use the Internet for pictures of my kids...but they are in a special album that only I and relatives can open with an invitation...

There are too many sick people in the world and a lot of them know computers...your ip address is a way they can find you and why put your kids at risk.

As far as the dating sites I would really worry as I have heard of offenders looking for women with children...they are sweet to the mother and start dating her...but it turns out they wanted the kids.

I mean would you take your kids picture and paste it up all over the place on billboards along with your address...it is what they are doing when they place them on some sites...

And I love my kids and love how cute they are and take millions of photos....but I only share them with those I know.

Answer 2

Well I think you last sentence explains why...."pride and joy" These types of women are obviously prideful of their children, and maybe not so much of themselves. I know I have fallen victim to this sometimes as well...but my problem is going out in public looking like crap but I always make sure my daughter is nice and neat and very cute looking.
But I do agree with making things private. I have a Myspace page with 3 or 4 photo albums with tons of pictures of her...BUT my page is set to private so you can only see them if I add you as a friend.
Actually I think I am going to turn this answer into a more sexist one......it is the same thing when a man brags about his damn cars, his stupid trophies, or fish or animal he shot, or boat or whatever his possesion is that he is most proud of. You can't tell me that men don't talk and even show pictures to EVERYONE who will listen...right? Well women are proud of the 9 months they carried this child, then labored them, and now are raising them. No it doesn't explain why they plaster it on the internet for everyone to see, but it does tell you why they want to.

Answer 3

I put pictures of my kids on facebook. When I put pictures up I select the box for only my friends to see the pictures (certainly not friends of friends or everyone). I only have friends on facebook for people I actually know and know well.I would not let someone I met on the internet be a facebook friend, I don't have friends I have known for less than a year. No matter how genuine and nice they seemed or who they said they were. I figure that the people who see pictures of my kids are the friends and family who see my kids anyway, and who are free to take their own pictures as well. One reason for not doing so is that someone may become obsessed with your child and befriend you to get to your child.

Answer 4

I am a mother of a 15 month old boy and I totally agree with you. There is NO need to put pictures of your children on the Internet. In my opinion the risks out way the fact that I am proud to be his mom and want to show him off. We are currently fighting this issue with my husbands brothers soon to be wife. She has pictures of my son plastered all over web sights that she takes part in. Not only does she exploit my son by pictures she gives details as to what is happening in his life and her life - she gives enough information that a child predator could nab him very easily. We have repeatedly asked that she remove his pictures and information but she refuses and flat out lies to us about it. My mother in law thinks that there is nothing wrong with what she is doing. I think that she doesn't realize all the risks that she is taking not only in her life but with my sons as well. As a teacher though she should be one of the first people to realize just how much you have to protect children. I just wish there were more people like you and me that understood the risk that there are in posting pictures of your children on the Internet.

Answer 5

Well said and I agree!

I have never put my kids' photos online. I had even started friendly chatroom relationships also with a few online users and even at their request, I would never email a picture of my children. You simply don't know how the story will end if your child is plastered everywhere. There are some real psycho creeps out there. Take a look at the Jon Benet Ramsey case for e.g. That guy was obsessed with her because she was publicized. He fantasized this sick stuff.

I know my kids are gorgeous, but I don't need others to reassure me.

Answer 6

You know, I have to agree with you. We try to teach kids not to post profiles online and IM chat with just anyone. I remember once when my daughter was a preteen, she had a girlfriend over and her friend got on an IM with some guy somewhere who was supposedly 18. I pulled the plug immediately (just before she could send him her address and phone number), then discovered AOL's parental controls and put up all blocks. We recently just had a 13 yr old girl kidnapped and raped in my area after chatting with a guy from out of state who claimed to be an older teen and had found her profile complete with pictures online. He was really in his 40's or 50's and duped this poor kid.

I know it's great to be proud of your kids, but my kids' pictures still hang up the old fashioned way on a wall in my home. Only those who are invited will ever see them, and I figure that's safer.

Answer 7

I am. Nothing like making a target visible. I live in a rural area, a town of less than 200, and a 34 year old guy was arrested for trying to have sex with 2 thirteen year olds THIS WEEKEND. He was met by the sheriff. A wise mom checked out what her kids were doing on the computer.
.

Answer 8

I agree. I have a myspace page and a lot of my friends will upload tons of photos of their children onto a public page! A few of them have even captioned photos with the child's complete name...first middle and last!

The idea of that has always made me nervous. Personally, I have a LOT of photos of my boys on my page as well, but in private albums, and I only allow friends and family who I actually know in real life to view my page :)

Answer 9

Yes i comepletely agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would never post my children's pic on the internet for the reason its a perverts playground. IF some pervert see's a child that appeals to them, the internet is the information highway, so i would be worried that they would peice together enough information to find them. My children are my pride and joy thats exactly why i would exploit them on the internet i want to keep them MINE!!! My fiance is fighting with his ex because she has pictures of their children on the net. We both agree this is unessacary and ridicilious. * God help her if something happens to his children*

Answer 10

I agree that they should not show their children pictures on a dating profile..I do post my baby pictures on my own blog for my husband family can see them because they do live in Iowa and we dont live in Iowa..so thats the only way they can see the baby is by viewing the pictures.