WHY IT MATTERS
A toddler cannot know how they will feel at 15, 25 or 40 about having hundreds of hours of their childhood available to strangers. When children eventually understand the scale of their exposure, some may strongly disagree with decisions made on their behalf.
1. CONSIDER THEIR FUTURE OPINION
Ask whether the adult child would choose publication.
2. LIMIT THE ARCHIVE
Children don’t need their entire childhood publicly documented.
3. PROTECT EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
Humiliation can outlive childhood.
4. RESPECT REFUSAL
Children who don’t want to participate should be allowed to stop.
5. PRESERVE FUTURE CHOICE
Private family archives allow children to choose what becomes public later.
6. INCREASE CONTROL WITH AGE
Older children should have substantially greater say.
7. DON’T BUILD THE BUSINESS AROUND THEM
Financial dependence can make withdrawal difficult.
8. REMEMBER THEY WILL GROW UP
The cute toddler in today’s thumbnail becomes tomorrow’s adult.
9. CHOOSE PRIVACY OVER ENGAGEMENT
Viral success is temporary. Published childhood history can be permanent.
10. PROTECT TRUST
Children should know their parents were guardians of their privacy.
BOTTOM LINE
Parents make the upload decision today. Their children may be the ones who live with that decision for decades.