Back in the spring, I opened our Flickr account. My site was still on Blogger, but I was having daily frustrations in getting pictures to upload. From reading some of your sites, this issue still continues today.
A few days after uploading my first batch of pictures, I read a post by Whoorl where she told us that creepy men were saving pictures of her and her beautiful pregnant belly. Ewwww. The fear of that, along with the fear that other creepy men (or the same ones) might do the same with my belly shots, or of shots of my kids, is why most of my photos are set so that only family and friends can see them.
I’m most concerned about posting pictures of my kids at the beach (read: shirtless), so I save those ones as private on Flickr. I keep any crafty photos or house photos public because I’m proud of my hubby’s skillz. if those pictures turn you on, then whatever.
Soon after, I had regular Internets here asking me to post belly shots. I felt that would be fine; my readership isn’t so huge that I was really concerned. I also choose to believe that no creeplors lurk here. Plus, I understand that having yet one more user name and password (to get into Flickr) may be enough to send someone over the edge. Or just not bother checking them out.
You all know I have a stat counter. It tells me how people find my site. One of the ways is through Google image searches. The most common one that comes up is of my craft room renovation. If only it was that clean today…Christmas took its toll on that room. I won’t post a picture because it might make you cry.
Another common one is this picture of Buzz Lightyear. It is pretty funny, and a lot of kids love Buzz. Mine included.
Recently, however, belly shot pictures have been bringing people here. Then yesterday, someone was going through my pregnancy posts. I’m going to (blindly) assume that it is other pregnant women who have looked for these pictures and through my posts. I know that I looked up pregnant bellies when pregnant with Graham, to see if I was “normal”. Just in case that is NOT the case, I removed all pregnant pictures of me from this site.
I’m sure it’s all innocent, but part of me is a tad worried. Should I be? And it’s OK to still post pictures of my kids, right? They are my life (well a huge chunk of it) and to not post pictures would not leave me with a whole lot. Thoughts?
ya I think about how much info I put out there for everyone to see. I hope that it is viewed with good intent but there are a lot of crazy people in this world. I too try not to post many photos of our kids because of this reason. I try and use my Flicker account more, hoping I have more control over who views our photos. It is always in the back of my mind.
[Reply]
Hey Ang,
I have heard of a few bloggers limiting pics of their kids, and some who all together don’t post any for various reasons. I post pics of myself and friends all the time, I’ve never had any indication that my pics have been used as sicko material, but its definitely a valid worry. I would never limit my pic use unless there was a probably.
There are definitely some creeps out there, doing God knows what with pics of animals and inadiment objects. I really don’t think it should keep us from sharing our lives with those who are close to us, or new friends, in our case. That is, unless you are getting pyscho e-mails from nasty old men wanting more preggo pics.
I’m not preggo or have I ever been, but I hope to be someday. I think pregnant women are so cute and I think babies are even cuter, so sometimes I scroll bloggers preggo photos just to appreciate life.
[Reply]
Tough call! My suggestion – choose wisely. Like you said, the pictures of the kids at the beach…if you think some creepy guy is gonna get a kick out of them then don’t post them…but if the kids are fully dressed I think you’re safe
[Reply]
Here’s how I think about it:
Would you ever say “I wish I had posted more pregnant pictures”?
Would you ever say “I wish I hadn’t posted any pregnant pictures”?
Better to be safe than sorry is my feeling. All of my Flickr photos are set to “friends and family” only. Even though I don’t get the ego boost from having hundreds of views the way I probably would if they were marked “public,” I feel much better knowing that I’m in control of who sees what. People who want to see your photos will take the time to type in that Flickr password, guaranteed. Also, I make sure to never post pictures of my house exterior or write about where I’m going to be at any given time. I’d rather be paranoid than kidnapped.
[Reply]
Good points…you’ve got me thinking.
[Reply]
I to have thought about this, my blog is for my family and friends to stay up to date with our little family and how Marin is growing and changing, my state counter allows me to keep some tabs on the activity on our blog and so far so good.
I am not really worried at this point about posting pictures to our blog or videos to Dropshots, I do however not post anything that contains bare little bottoms or fronts. When I am prego again I will post belly pics, but I to will be fully clothed in them.
[Reply]
Hmm, interesting. Since I started blogging after my kids were born, and I’m not having any more, I don’t need to worry about preggo shots. Or any shots of myself for that matter. I hardly like any that are taken, so most of the photos on my blog are of my kids. I have (in the past) put a photo of Ethan with no shirt on, at the lakes. But I wouldn’t do it now.
I regularly track my site to see who has been there and how they got there. So far I’ve not seen anything overly concerning. Besides, I trust God to keep me & my family safe. And I take the precautions I think I should to help that along.
[Reply]
Thats a hard one. My personal stance is that I don’t post any photos that could be viewed as even slightly “provacative” (to a twisted mind I mean) so I don’t post any shots of my kids without their clothes on etc. I don’t really understand how google images works, I didn’t realise that photos from my blog could end up there without me putting them there until I checked my site meter too – weird!
I realise that there are going to be some truly sick individuals who would get their kicks just from normal photos of kids playing etc but my take on that is that those same individuals probably see them in real life too. It makes me sick and angry to think about but just like I don’t keep our kids at home all the time, I’m happy to share our photos for our family and friends. Does that make sense (sorry its really early here and I’m still half asleep!). Ultimately whatever you feel comfortable with though,
[Reply]
Funny you should mention this…just today I noticed some guy found my flickr site and favored only pics of my boys without their shirts on. I never have shown their “privates” and don’t intend to. If I find the person esp. perverted… ie.all their favorite pics being that of young naked children etc…I block them from my site. I am fully aware that I can’t prevent them from looking anyway. You know…in my opinion I’m not giving these losers any provocative pictures to look at, so I don’t feel like I’m at fault and I don’t feel like they are on a hunt for my children specifically. And as far prego pics…I myself (esp. being prego), always love to check out other prego bellies and compare sizes at various stages etc. It would be safe to say that many other women do the same. I focus on the belly, not the breasts etc. and if a swollen belly turns some guy on, I guess so be it. I wouldn’t worry about it unless he started sending me notes or stalking me or something crazy. I guess you never know what can happen and you just have to comfortable with what you have presented to the masses. I do. If I feel iffy about something, I’ll remove it.
[Reply]
tough one. I post prego shots…. just did the other day. I have thought about it, but can’t be bothered to post my pictures on a flickr acount. I barely have time or ambition to blog. As for kids at the beach shots… ummm.. that’s hard. These are the same people that go to the pools and beaches to watch kids in person. I’m more concerned about that then pictures on the web. Still, the thought of some creepy person saving the pictures of my kids…. makes me feel very sick.
[Reply]
I sure hope it was a mom or a friend, that’s sick, poor Whoorl I wonder how she found that out. I still don’t feel totally comfortable with having pics of my children on the internet. I think it’s good you took your belly shots down to save you from creeps as for your children I just don’t know, talk to your hubby about it and see what he thinks of it all, and then go with what your gut is telling you.
[Reply]
Oh Angella, the things you make me aware of. I don’t know what to say about that. I get to see pictures of your children on flickr and I think that is great. I kow that when I was pregnant even this time, I checked on other pregnant women’s bumps. But…I always did it on pregnancy sites. I don’t know what to say about this one. I just posted some pictures of my kids as I don’t have time to write a blog entry and I am starting to regret posting them. For us, it is the easiest was to get family tosee the pictures (most family members barely know how to work a computer, so one click to mine or Dono’s blogs is about all they can manage). I do, however, think that Leah’s question is the perfect question to ask. Thanks for making me think. I’m looking forward to hearing what you decide.
[Reply]
I have also gone back and forth on this one. I don’t have any belly shots as I asure you, they would not be of interest to anyone but a plastic surgeon looking to drum up business.
However, I agree, it’s a tough call. I quit, now have started again posting pictures.
I think it’s good that you got rid of the belly shots even though it is likely just another momma to be reading your posts.
As for the kids…. well you know that I post my kids but I don’t get near the traffic that you do.
Also there is a html code that you can you put on your site to stop search engines from searching your site. Let me know and I can pass it on.
Good luck with your decision
[Reply]
hi Angella- read this and had to comment. this is the excat reason I quit blogging a while back. You can actually add a code to your template that prevents people from right clicking and saving anything. Also, I was nervous once when I saw others posting pictures of their kids in the bath or their little bums. Although most of us around think it is adorable, people have to remember that there are alot of others our there that are no good, so it is wise to not post those kind of baby/kid photos.
If you need a no right click code, email me or just do a search for one.
[Reply]
I say keep posting away. I mean sure there are sickos out there, but the thing about sickos is that we don’t understand them. You never know what you might post that might turn someone on, or that someone might come back to look at again or might this or might that. I am not a naive person in this area and I do treasure my kids enough to want to keep them safe in all spheres. But I also choose to live in God’s safety and presence and to me that means I wont be chained into taking away joy from my family and friends because of what someone I don’t know might do. I say post away, and maybe just pray for God’s protection of your blog.It may sound a bit silly, but God is in control of all things and cares about all things no matter how big or small they may seem.
[Reply]
You guys rock. I liked Robyn’s point that we all take our kids out in public. I was really more creeped out about my belly shots, but now that they’re gone, I feel better. So does Matthew. I think I’ll keep posting pictures of the kids here, and save beach and bath photos for Flickr
[Reply]
Sickos suck, but I’d sure miss all your pictures if you stopped posting them. I’m glad you decided to keep on-a-postin (with the exception of belly, beach, and bath shots, understandably).
[Reply]
It’s sad we have to worry about this eh? I have thought about it too and I am wary of posting any shots period, let alone any kid photos. But I’ve notice myself doing this more as I get more comfortable with blogging. Still, in the back of my mind….(my 6th sense) I probably shouldn’t…and we should always listen to our 6th sense (of course that’s my opinion).
PS- I am a super conservative person so take my comments with a grain of salt.
[Reply]
I like the way Amanda F put it. I too choose to live under the protection of God. I am not naive but I choose not to live in fear. I am just very particular in choosing shots. I also don’t have quite the blog following as some of your readers and I do have a stat counter.
[Reply]
Ya know, I’ve thought alot about this whole issue too. The concerns you mentioned are reasons why I have taken steps to limit the traffic flow to our site…and why I don’t post our full names or last names. It is kindof annoying now that I have 2 J’s, and I feel a tad overprotective that I take those measures, but I have some peace of mind about it I guess.
I originally started blogging to allow our far away loved ones to see our family grow and to see pics of our kid (now kids!). Then I met alot of really cool blogger friends (like yourself=) and my reasons for blogging took on the additional fun of connecting with other moms. I guess I just figure that short of deleting our whole blog I take the risk of the possibility that creepos visit my site. I don’t want to stop blogging so I guess I’ll just keep taking my ‘measures’ to give myself some peace of mind.
To bad the weirdos have to ruin it for everybody!
[Reply]
when I was pregnant I would always go through other women’s archives to find out how their pregnancies went or how big their bellies were – so I bet whoever was on your site was doing the same thing. Blogs are a fantastic resource for women – and I’m keeping my own belly photos up for that reason.
But the most important thing is to feel comfortable with what you’re sharing so I think you’ve done the right thing.
[Reply]
hi angella. Since you brought the thought of “weirdos” looking at pics of kids & me on the web I haven’t done so either. No naked belly pics of me & no naked pics of my babe either. I can e-mail or print the good ones for family but even they don’t really need to see us like that do they? Thanks for posting your thoughts. It’s always appreciated. which stat counter do you use anyways? Mine is kinda lame.
[Reply]