How to politely request people not to share photos of your children on social media.
Invite-only shared albums can be created using Google Photos and Apple Photos.
A 27-year-old graduate student was recently discovered using real children's images on the internet to create AI child pornography for pedophiles. What makes this even more disturbing is that he worked on request. This story has left me feeling uneasy, and it raises a question that I have been asked more frequently:
"Kim, I prefer not to have photos of my children shared on social media. How can I politely request that friends and family refrain from posting them without coming across as preachy?"
Win an iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence without making a purchase. Simply enter now!
Your kids, your rules
It's a fact that predators scan public accounts for kids to target. It's also easier than ever for pedophiles to pose as a kid and groom your child on social media platforms such as Snapchat, Roblox, and others.
Posting your kids on Facebook or Instagram allows Meta to use those images to train its AI models, which is a legal gray area. As a parent, it's your responsibility to safeguard your children's privacy.
Related: Stop Facebook from using your data to train AI
Keep things drama-free
It's best to inform people before a big gathering that sharing children's photos online can pose risks, even if they have good intentions, as they may not fully understand the potential dangers.
- This is for your kids, and it's important to remember that it's about you and what you can do to be a good parent. You have the power to make a positive impact on their lives, and it's up to you to use that power wisely. It's not about what others are doing or how they are parenting their children. It's about what you can do to be the best parent you can be for your kids.
- Share your reasoning. Or just send them a link to this story!
- Original: "I'm not sure if I want to post this on social media." Rewritten: "I have decided not to post this on social media."
- Sure, I can help you with that. Please provide me with the original sentence you would like me to rewrite.
I wrote up an example you can copy:
"We kindly request that you refrain from posting photos of the kids on social media for privacy and safety reasons. We have become concerned about the potential risks associated with sharing such images online. Thank you for your cooperation."
Related: The secret to get better pics of you and your family
If it’s already posted …
A comment on a public post can give the impression that you are accusing them.
I forgot to mention earlier that we're not sharing pictures of the kids online yet. Could you please remove or repost this post with their faces concealed? An emoji would be perfect.
Social media posting of children's images: guidelines and restrictions
The safest way to share pics with friends?
Not sharing photos of your kids publicly doesn't mean you can't share them at all. My suggestion: Create an exclusive album for close family and friends.
You can access Google Photos through your phone or computer by opening the app or website.
- To share a photo on a computer, click on "Photos," select the desired image, click the "+" icon, then choose "Shared album" and create a new one. Add a title and click "Share." You can also opt for creating a link, searching for contacts, or sharing on social media.
- To create a private album, select "Get Link" and enter the email addresses you want to share it with or use a messaging app or social media to share it.
To ensure maximum privacy, make sure the Link Sharing toggle is off before sharing an album.
To create and share albums on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac using the Photos app, first enable Shared Albums.
- To enable Shared Albums on your iPhone or iPad, navigate to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and toggle the switch.
- To access Shared Albums on a Mac, open the Photos app, select Photos > Settings (or Preferences in macOS Monterey or earlier), then choose the iCloud tab and click on Shared Albums.
Now create and share your album.
- To create a new shared album in Photos on a Mac or iPhone/iPad running iOS 18, scroll down to Shared Albums > Shared Albums > Create. Then, add a name and images before selecting contacts, typing an email address or adding an iMessage phone number. Finally, tap Done.
- To create a new shared album on iOS 17 or earlier, go to Albums, click the "+" button, and then select "New Shared Album." Add a name and images, and then choose contacts, enter an email address or add an iMessage phone number.
Get tech-smarter on your schedule
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
- Across the U.S., there are over 500 radio stations airing National Radio. You can find your local station or listen to the free podcast.
- Daily newsletter: Join 559,000 people who read the Current (free!)
- Watch: On Kim’s YouTube channel
- Podcast: "Kim Komando Today" — Listen wherever you get podcasts
Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.
