Can Photos of Babies on Facebook Hurt Your Career?
- May 14, 2012
- by Melissa Lawrence
Hi everybody!
When I first joined Facebook, I swore I wouldn’t be one of those over-sharing moms. Yet I think, bit by bit, it can creep up on you. Your baby’s first steps, the first time they wore something a friend gave you (and you just HAD to share it!), or baby’s first teeth. Sending pictures of your baby out into the universe can become so tempting because every moment is just so very cute! When it comes to working moms and online postings, is the Sheryl Sandberg baby photo online the new standard for working moms?
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Seems to me that this is only natural. We are so proud of the life we’ve created we can’t help but share them with the world. And especially when a simple click can make the day of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters, and those close friends who feel more a part of your little one’s life through these photos. The only problem is, at what point does posting pictures of babies on Facebook become too much of a good thing, especially when it comes to working moms who have to balance their personal and their professional identities? Can posting pictures of your little bundle of joy actually spell doom for your career?
Some Working Mom Advice
Returning to work after maternity leave is so difficult. You are homesick for your baby and struggling with being away from that little person. No matter how many black and white photos of them are scattered around your office, nothing will match the feeling of holding them in your arms and feeling their warm little bodies. The balance between motherhood and a career is tough, and with a newborn, you’re probably sleep deprived on top of everything. Now, add to this that you have to think about balancing your professional image with your mom identity: a recent article in the Juggle Blog in the Wall Street Journal questions whether new moms, particularly working moms, should post lots of baby photos on their Facebook pages.
In this vlog, I explore this issue and give some thoughts based on my own experience. In my view, think before you post and don’t be afraid to mix it up a little. For every picture of your newborn that you post, post another photo that pertains to your professional life in order to maintain a healthy balance. For example, each time you post a selfie with your bundle of joy, switch it up with a business article that has inspired you in your field of work or an exciting new current event happening in the world. Honestly, your friends might even appreciate not seeing your child 24/7, especially if they’re single! It’s all about moderation, in my opinion. Put yourself in your friends’ shoes before posting to figure out if it really is that important to share with the world. After all, you don’t need the whole world knowing everything about your baby in order to love and cherish them as a family.
xo Melissa
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