Experts warn of long-term risks from sharing children’s photos online
Photos and videos of children, often shared on social media by parents, may have lasting consequences, experts warn. Media educator Marije Lagendijk told AD that the content that seems innocent today can resurface years later and affect children in unexpected ways, including during job searches.
Recent social media attention centered on a video of Noortje, a 3-year-old girl with a disability. In the short clip, she is filmed at home after pulling books out of a cupboard and reacting while her mother talks to her. The video prompted parodies by young users and responses from adults and companies.
Lagendijk said, “Children and young people making jokes about other children in videos, I can understand. They cannot always foresee the consequences of their actions. But that adults and even companies exploit content about someone else’s child crosses all limits. It is as if the person no longer matters and has become public property, something anyone can use however they want.”
Noortje’s mother intended the video as a display of love and pride for her daughter, but Lagendijk stressed that visibility of a child carries risks. “Everything that contributes to acceptance and normalization of parts of society you may not encounter often is positive. But you can also question whether it is good for the child. That question is becoming increasingly important.”
Parents should be aware that children have a right to privacy. “It is theirs, not ours,” Lagendijk told AD. “They have the right to develop their own identity. We may manage it, but we cannot claim it.” Parents should pause before posting photos of vulnerable moments, such as children in the bath, half-naked on the beach, crying during vaccinations, or having tantrums in public. “Ask yourself: who am I making this photo for? These are moments no one wants publicly displayed, especially without consent,” Lagendijk said.
Digital footprints can persist for decades. Lagendijk said, “When your child applies for a job, almost every employer Googles prospective employees. Videos of tantrums or crying moments may resurface, creating a first impression that is no longer accurate but still influences perception.”
Socially, these images can also lead to bullying. Lagendijk shared, “I regularly hear stories from young people who say, ‘I’m being bullied with videos on my mother’s Facebook account.’” She advised parents to weigh personal gratification against their child’s safety. “If safety is your priority, it is safest not to post at all.”
