By Marie Elium
Prom pics, first steps and playground tumbles. It’s fun keeping up with friends and acquaintances through Facebook, Instagram and other social media feeds. Who doesn’t like a cute grandparent/grandchild photo?
Then there’s the occasional cringe-worthy post that makes us wonder: What were they thinking?
Did we need to know that a grandkid is no longer wetting the bed? Or that a child finally doesn’t need a tutor anymore? Potty training updates, stitches in the E.R. — almost nothing is off limits on social media, but maybe some of it should be.
Guardrails
It’s normal to want to share good and fun things on social media, says Dr. Michael Redovian, a pediatric psychiatrist at Akron Children’s Hospital. “But always view (posts) from the perspective that this has the potential to live forever; is it worth it?
Before posting an item about a grandchild to social media, consider who will see it, Dr. Redovian says. Is it for family and friends, or can someone outside of your circle see it? Who will repost it, and where? How will the child respond to it?
“If you’re posting a silly thing a teen did and if cousin Bob mentions it to him at the next gathering, will that lead to (an argument) or will he be mortified?” Different situations call for different guardrails, he says.
A milestone to grandparents may be something a teen has struggled with and didn’t want to share with his peers, or the achievement doesn’t fit with his reputation at school. The best option is to talk to the teen first, and then post it (or not).
Another example is when a grandparent posts a photo of a zoo trip with a grandchild. If there’s an ongoing custody issue, the custodial parent may not want the other to know where they are.
And those emergency room photos? Don’t violate the privacy of other people or children by inadvertently including them in the shot.
With younger children, talk to parents about their boundaries for social media posts, Dr. Redovian says.
Social media lives forever. “If your (grandkid) is potty trained, 12-13 years down the line, is someone going to find that, use that, rip on them? As you move into middle school, is that something your friends will print out and post on your locker?
To learn more about social media boundaries, risks and benefits, Dr. Redovian recommends the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry’s Facts for Families at aacap.org.
