I have two children of my own -- one on the older end of the social-media saturated group (he's 20) and one smack-dab in the middle of it (she's 17) -- and one step-child (he's 9). I've been a FB member since the beginning, and all of my family and friends are FB members (we live about 1000 miles away from any family member on either side, and my children's father lives overseas). However, I rarely share photos of either child via social media. I share photos privately via shared google drive folders or via e-mail. I think that children should have the right to make the decisions for themselves about what is shared and what isn't. My son has specifically asked that I not share photos of him via FB or other social media -- he's a private person and he no longer has a social media account of any sort. If there is a special occasion and I'd like to post pictures that he's in, I ask him first. He's never said no, and I don't think he would ever say no, but I believe it's polite to ask. I will occasionally post pictures of my daughter, but I also ask her first. I rarely post pictures with my stepson, but if I do, I ask him first and tell him why I'd like to post it (usually it's because it's a picture with his dad (my husband) or with one of the kids that I want to share). He's occasionally said no -- and I've never posted something he's asked me not to.

I think it's polite. It's not my image, it's theirs, and once it's posted online, it's out there forever. I think there is a large difference between the photo-sharing of years past (we all have those bathtub pictures of our kids that are printed and stuck in an album or in a shoebox). Photos that are posted online, even those posted in places with strict privacy settings, are truly out of our control. Yes, I limit my FB friends and other social media lists, but it's just not the same.