DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My wife and I have aggressively avoided social media since our older daughter was born. We don’t even have any private family sites or anything like that.
Last week pictures of our two daughters showed up on the HOA’s page.
We have never authorized the use of their images on the site and I am seriously considering legal action against the HOA and the moderators of the page. We have very good reasons for not sharing pictures of our children with the public. Even though the particular photos have been taken down, for all we know, the damage has been done.
We are now at the point where we do not let our girls go to any of the community events and most certainly not the community pool.
My wife, although she is furious, says we have to move past this and be sure we’re taking all possible precautions, but don’t you think I have a right to protect my children in every way possible? --- HATE SOCIAL MEDIA
DEAR HATE SOCIAL MEDIA: Yes, as their parent you have a right and an obligation to protect your children.
Before taking legal actions, though, especially if your wife’s not onboard with the idea, it would probably be worth checking into the laws governing both your HOA and the state regarding the public posting of photographs, particularly of minors.
If you discover the HOA responded appropriately to your demands to take down the photos of your children, instituting legal action might be an expensive and fruitless fight.