“I remember the last time Hermione happily posed for photos,” sighs Kellie Whitehead, reminiscing about her 18-year-old daughter. “It was her 13th birthday and she was at a beauty salon with her friends, having mani-pedis. I took photos of them and shared them on Facebook. After that, everything changed.”
Kellie, 41, has loved posting photos of her children since she joined Facebook in 2008, when Hermione was seven, and her sons Charlie and James (now 14 and 12) were toddlers. “I posted without thinking − videos of them at sports day, photos of them looking cute or doing something silly. It came from a place of pride. It was me saying, ‘Look at my lovely child’.”
It only occurred to her that her children might object once Hermione turned 14 and also joined Facebook − and made her feelings crystal-clear. “I didn’t really know she was posting those photos before I had Facebook,” says Hermione. “Then I realised my entire life is on there, involuntarily. It was horrifying.”
They aren’t the only mother-daughter duo arguing over ‘sharenting’. As Facebook turned 15 this year, a whole generation now in their teens are realising that their parents have gone online to document their first steps, first days at school, and so on. Although there are no similar New Zealand statistics available, in the UK the average parent has posted 1500 photos of their child by their fifth birthday, according to a study by internet domain manager Nominet.
OVERSTEPPING BOUNDARIES
Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av NEXT.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av NEXT.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Caitlin Cady Shares Her Journey
Caitlin Cady always liked being in control, so the thought of meditating scared her. But once she sat down and let her thoughts leave her mind, it proved to be incredibly important to her health. She shares her journey
The Wright Direction
Back on home soil after her stint in NYC, Rebecca Wright shares with Monique McKenzie what she thinks the future holds for the US, and why she is proud of the positive role modelling New Zealand offers her young daughter
View From The Top
She’s just turned 50 and Hilary Barry is feeling happier and more comfortable in her own skin than ever before. The Seven Sharp host sits down with Phoebe Watt to talk about gratitude and why she won’t let the odd barb bring her down.
How To Magnify Your Meal
There are certain natural foods that offer higher nutrients than others, but how do we know which to choose? Anna King Shahab looks at how we can make choices that are backed by science.
My big BREAK
Sometimes things come together in ways we could never have imagined. Sharon Stephenson speaks to three Kiwi women about the pivotal moments that helped launch their careers and businesses to success
MOTHER AND SISTER
Linda Armstrong attended the Linwood Islamic Centre every Friday and on the day of the Christchurch mosque attack she confronted the shooter, asking him to stop. Now her daughter Angela Armstrong is going back over her mum’s footsteps to learn more about her conversion to Islam and the community she loved
The Acid Test For Anxiety
Microdosing involves taking tiny amounts of illegal psychedelic drugs such as LSD or magic Microdosing, the practice of taking tiny amounts of illegal psychedelic drugs, is being hailed by some as a new form of therapy. We separate the shamanism from the science in pursuit of the truth
Queen Of The Beehive
Tova O’Brien is living her career dream, leading Three’s all-female political team in parliament. She tells Sharon Stephenson about reporting from Europe’s hot spots, landing in jail, and what they really talk about in the press gallery
Passion Project: How To Write A Romance
Have you ever secretly thought you could be the next Nora Roberts or Diana Gabaldon? Award-winning Kiwi romance novelist Bronwyn Sell takes you through her 10-step plan
The End Game
Everyone has their own approach to goal setting, but do some work better than others? Monique McKenzie shares the methods that will help you get to where you want to be.
