The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has advised parents to consider their child's feelings before posting photos of then online.
Their advice comes in the wake of a new study which found the average child has 1,500 photos of themselves posted online by the time they’re five years old.
Experts have warned that creating a digital footprint for your child at such a young age can have major repercussions when they are older.
A spokeswoman for the NSPCC told the BBC: “Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it creates a digital footprint of a child which can follow them into adult life.
"It is always important to ask a child for their permission before posting photos or videos of them.
"For very young children, think about whether they would be happy for you to post or if it will embarrass them. If you aren't sure, it's best not to post.”
Out of 1000 parents surveyed by YouGov, half said they avoid posting photos of their children online, while one in five said they posted photos of their children at least once a month.
For those who decided against posting photos of their children online, 87 percent felt that their children’s lives should remain private, and 38 percent said that they knew their children wouldn’t want to be featured on their parent’s social media profiles.
Parents who do choose to share photos of their little ones tend to take precautions, according to Ofcom.
80 percent of those who shared photos of their children online restrict who can see the photos by changing the audience to 'family only' or 'family and close friends only'.
When it comes to the issue of creating a digital footprint without their child’s consent, 52 percent of parents insisted their child would approve of them posting photos and videos online.
15 percent of those who shared photos admitted that they had reservations about how their child might feel in the future.
What do you think, mums? Do you share photos of your child online, or do you try to refrain from it?
Are you concerned about your child’s digital footprint? Let us know your thoughts.
