Everybody loves the baby milestone blanket, but maybe consider these other creative and super-cute baby milestone photo ideas that show their growth in the first year. Add your unique spin to one of the following set-ups; if you’re short on time or not the creative type (we get it), we’ve included props you can purchase to add flair to your photos.
This is one of the sweetest baby milestone photo ideas we’ve seen. Teresa, a custom artist and illustrator based in Southern California, surrounded her daughter Elena in beautiful blooms and leaves to show how she blossomed each month. Create seasonal scenes as she did, or place one perfect rose or daisy next to your child the first month and then add a flower each month as a visual indicator of your child’s age.
Mini Blocks
These mini blocks give you lots of flexibility with how you display your message. Add a heart or a holiday symbol and stack the blocks vertically or lay them side by side in a pattern. Long after your child has hit the one-year mark, use these blocks to spell out your child's age in years or what grade they're in.
Pose your child on a neutral background to make these wood safari animal-themed cards stand out. Each disc is double-sided and features adorable giraffes, lions, and lions, and there's even a card announcing the arrival of your sweet bundle.
This chalkboard comes in two sizes (9x12 and 12x16) and features cute, hand-drawn animals. Add milestones, favorites, and other important baby data, and then choose a light-colored, neutral background and take a close-up shot so the text is readable.
Seasonal props that show the baby’s age in months convey the passing of time and will make for an amazing collage to commemorate that first year. Family blogger Chelsae in Tampa Bay took this photo of her daughter Evelyn with these autumn leaves for November, and she used candy hearts in February and beach toys in June.
We love this baby milestone photo idea because there’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping infant. And with each month, you’ll appreciate not having to force a smile in each month’s photo. With a sleeping baby, you can take the shot quickly, and your child will always look beautiful and relaxed. If you’re worried about your child waking up, take photos at the end of naptime rather than at night. A shortened nap is easier than getting a crying baby back to sleep at night.
Posing your child next to the same stuffed animal each month shows how big they’re growing. It also lends itself to seasonal-themed photos and shots of impromptu hugs with their fuzzy friends. This photo from Alice Morais of Little Pearls Photography, a maternity, newborn, and family photographer based in Kennesaw, GA, captures both a seasonal theme and a sweet moment with a stuffed animal.
Photo Banner
Put your favorite photo from each month in this self-editable photo template. You can also record the date and a short message. Once you've printed them out, attach them with a clothespin to raffia or ribbon to create a beautiful photo banner. When you update the banner with a new card each month, take a photo to show family and friends your baby's life in pictures.
Available at Etsy shop partiara, $9 for a self-editable template.
Everyday Items
iStock
You don't need to be crafty or buy expensive props to create cute monthly baby photos. You need a gorgeous baby (check!) and to be creative with items you already have. Pose your babe with common items like diapers, onesies, pacifiers, or food (cupcakes are a new-mom fave). Spell out how old your baby is in months, or place the items around your child. Use the same prop every month or switch it up based on your baby's preferences.
Sports Stickers
Dress your baby in a solid-colored onesie and pop on one of these sporty stickers for consistent and cute photos each month. Or, get creative with where you place the sticker, like on a baseball cap, favorite stuffie, or diaper as your baby crawls away from you. If your older baby is too busy to sit still for a photo with you, a sticker gives you lots of flexibility on where, and how, to take an awesome photo.
Spread some serious joy by sharing your baby milestone photos with family and friends near and far on the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
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The holiday season will be here before we know it, and it’s pretty much a given we’ll be frantically trying to pull together holiday pictures in time to get those cards in the mail. Good news—we’ve gathered the most creative family photo ideas out there, and all of them can be recreated with ease! Gone are the cheesy grins and fake smiles, these family holiday photo ideas will put everyone at ease and make the process much less stressful.
Outdoor photos can be almost anything you want them to be, depending on your location and props. We love the simple idea of capturing a sweet candid moment instead of the usual pose with cheesy grins.
If there's anything cuter than matching holiday family pajamas, we haven't found it. And don't worry, all sorts of pajamas are available far enough in advance that you don't have to wait until the last minute.
For big laughs, send out photos suited up as Ralphie and the rest of the Parker family. Mom Amanda scoured deal sites like eBay and Amazon to find everything she needed to re-create the classic scene. Want to know how she did it? Hop on over to Work in Progress to find out.
Sometimes the kids just don't want to cooperate. Instead of stressing out and worrying about getting the picture family photo, just go with the flow. It usually ends up being more authentic and will give all your friends a good laugh.
Is it the beach, the mountains, the family farm? Whatever your happy place, featuring it in your holiday pictures photo never gets old.
Make the Most of Fall
Jennifer Massoni Pardini
If we’re on top of our game, we’re usually taking our holiday pictures when it’s peak fall rather than winter. If you don’t want to hold out for that first snow or you live somewhere milder, throw those autumn leaves into the air and capture some seasonal (and childhood) magic.
Capture the magic of the holidays with this one-of-a-kind picture by photographer Leilani Rogers. You might need an extra set of hands and a little bit of time to get it just right, but the results are well worth the commitment.
The best source of inspiration is sometimes right in your own home. Have the entire family recreate a favorite drawing or sketch. Not only will you get chuckles from friends and family, but it’s a great chance to show off your budding Picasso’s artistic skills.
Using props still gives holiday pictures “that certain something." Raid the dress-up bin for silly hats, boas, and superhero masks, or find printables to make your own. Remember, when it comes to dressing up your photos, bigger and brighter is always better!
Decide on a word that describes your family or the holidays, then have each person hold a letter of the word. It’ll add an interesting element to the photo without distracting from your pretty faces!
The local tree farm provides an idyllic (and nearly effortless) backdrop for just about any photo staging. Bring along a toy car (or wagon) and pair it with a wee tree for instant sweetness.
Artistic and retro, the “vinyl face” is a photo trend that works especially for camera-shy tykes. Play around with magazines, books, or movie posters for a variety of expressions. Follow Japanese photographer Hideaki Hamada on Instagram for enchanting photos of his lil’ sons and life around Osaka, Japan.
From Into the Spiderverse to Guardians of the Galaxy and LEGO Ninjago, superheroes never get old when it comes to family photo ideas. Bring on 2024 with power!
Simple silhouettes give family photos a classic touch. Oh, and this idea is super handy when someone isn’t looking their best or if the kids have (already) started making mud pies in their holiday outfits.
Update your friends and loved ones with a chalkboard message that says it all, like this adorable shot we scooped out over at Ryan O'Dowd Photography. Whether it's you or your kids holding the news, adding this small detail makes a standard family pose extra special.
Make sure to capture all the memories—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
From malls and parks to drive-worthy experiences, here are the best places to take photos with Santa in San Diego—some will even pose with your pet
There are so many fun, family activities happening this time of year, whether you’re shopping for your Christmas tree in San Diego, wandering around town to catch all the must-see holiday lights nearby, or seeing which favorite holiday show should be on your wish-list this year. Of course don’t forget to make time to mingle with good ole St. Nick. The sun might be out (with no snow in sight) but Santa Claus is coming to town, and chances are, you’re looking for some memory-making photo ops. From malls and parks to an entire village dedicated to the man, we’ve rounded up our must-go spots to see Santa near San Diego.
If you haven't ever done it, we definitely recommend heading up to SkyPark at Santa’s Village, at least once in your lifetime. The whole village comes into its own and lights up for a jolly good time. From breakfast with Santa to tea with Mrs. Claus, you can get as little or as much Santa in your life as you want. For photo-ops, make a reservation online to save your spot and prevent disappointments. Of course, that’s not all—there’s ice skating and a dazzling light show that takes place at the park as well. You might even get snow while your here—a true Christmas miracle for SoCal residents.
Capture the magic of the holiday season in a photo with Seaport’s resident Santa Claus in a delightful San Diego waterfront setting on the harbor. Families can strike a pose with jolly Kris Kringle—in front of the Chris Harvey Gallery—no appointment necessary. This spot also has 54 retail shops—get your Christmas shopping done while you're here.
The San Diego Zoo's holiday celebration, Jungle Bells (Dec. 9-Jan. 1), has all the Christmas fixings you might be looking for: holiday photos with Dr. Harry Lion, Churchill Polar Bear, and Sydney Koala, a juggling Jack Frost, live holiday music, acrobatic elves, strolling Holiday Troubadours, and, of course, photos with the big guy. You'll find Santa (and his factory), in the Lost Forest—at the Price Education Center, to be specific.
Dates: Nov. 25-27, Dec. 3-4 and 24; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 9-23, 25; noon-8 p.m.
Skip the lines and spend some quality time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in their treehouse. In addition to the professional photo session with Santa, kids will have time to chat about what's on their wish lists, tour the tree house, sit by the fire place, and even have a seat in the big man's chair. Claim your spot at this popular event—offered by reservation only.
Good to Know: This is a fundraising event so the proceeds help sponsor families in need.
Dates: Reservations are now open. Photos take place Sat. & Sun only beginning Nov. 26-Dec. 18
Old St. Nick is ditching the heavy red suit and will be breaking out his board shorts and Hawaiian shirt for the 15th annual Surfin’ Santa celebration at Seaport Village. If your family would like to take some not-so-wintery photos with the jolly surfer himself, he'll be hanging in his lifeguard tower, ready to snap a few poses. Photos with Santa start at 1:45 p.m. Named one of the 10 best Santa sightings by USA Today, the event begins at noon with live music and entertainment
Every Sat. and Sun. through Dec. 18, you can stop by to see Santa at The Forum Carlsbad. Find St. Nick in the Garden Area between YETI and Allbirds, and bring your camera. Visits are complimentary. Guests can also enjoy holiday characters on Sat. and strolling carolers on Sun. from 1-4 p.m.
Children within all spectrums of special needs and their families are welcome to visit Santa during Santa Cares Day at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. The event takes place before the mall opens on Dec. 4 for a sensory-friendly, less hectic event to experience the time-honored tradition of a visit and photos with Santa. This unique opportunity is specially designed to create a comfortable and inviting environment so all children can feel comfortable with Santa. Reservations are encouraged.
Santa is available for photos throughout the month (beginning Nov. 17-Dec. 24) but on special nights, he'd love to meet your favorite four-legged pal. Westfield UTC invites families to enjoy the the special Santa Paws Pet Night, a fun, furry twist on the time-honored tradition of taking photos with the man in the big red suit—although everyone is welcome, even without pets. The mall will also collect donations these evenings on behalf of The Humane Society. Reservations recommended.
Dates: Dec. 5, 12, and 19; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
4545 La Jolla Village Dr., Suite E-25 San Diego Online:westfield.com
If you are looking for a more refined setting to meet with Old St. Nick this holiday season, visit him at the sprawling Hotel Del Coronado. Here you can take a picture with him in the charming Garden Patio that sits in the central courtyard of a majestic Victorian building. For those that simply can't wait to see the big guy, head over to the hotel's holiday festival on Dec. 7. Online reservations required.
Don’t miss your chance to visit with Santa at Old Poway Park. This free event will take you back in time with caroling, live music, and horse-drawn hayrides. You can also purchase holiday treats, shop at the craft boutique, or board the Poway Midland Railroad for a night-time ride around the park. Free shuttles to and from the event will be available from two locations: Poway City Hall parking lot and Poway Adult School parking lot.
Dates: Dec. 9; 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Dec. 10; 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Your kids are born for yoga but if you don’t consider yourself quite at instructor-level, don’t worry: there’s a master class just for them, and it’s free! Cosmic Kids Yoga offers an introductory series of yoga adventures that will keep kids of all ages engaged. The Introduction to Kids Yoga series, which begins with Arnold the Ant (below) is a series of 11 videos, each just around 10 minutes long. Click the one below to get started!
The holidays will be here in a flash, so don’t let any time lapse before planning how and where to take your family photos. We’ve polled some of our favorite local photographers for their favorite spots around San Diego to snap family pics and for their pro tips to make your DIY family photos shine in this year’s holiday cards. Read on for where and how to take your snaps.
Location, location, location. Decide if you want a gorgeous canyon, something cool and urban or some warm beach vibes. Either way, you'll want to look for open shade to diffuse the sun. For a beach photo, seek out a structure such as a pier and notice where the shadows fall. With your back toward the sun, stand at the shadow’s edge closest to where it transitions back to the light.
Editing Tip: If you rotate the horizon lines in your photos so it’s level and not crooked, you’ll be amazed how this will elevate your pictures.
Ocean Beach Pier 1850 Ocean Front St., Ocean Beach
Make some magic with the Golden Hour. Shoot an hour before sunset to capture the best lighting and scope out the location before your planned photoshoot. Have everyone sit with their backs facing the sun and make sure your camera is set in a small spot of shade to avoid any lens flare from the sun. Don’t forget your furry friends! This might add some chaos to the mix, but you'll be glad you included everyone in the family.
Pro tip: Bring a large blanket to pick up some extra colors or add neutral textures with a chunky knit or a soft flannel. Make sure it’s large enough for the entire family to sit on; if it’s too small it will make you look smaller in the photo.
Presidio Park 2811 Jackson St., San Diego Online: sandiego.gov
Perk up your pixels with color! Clothing makes the photo. You could have an amazing location but if the clothes don't fit the location, it messes with the photo vibe. Color tones should depend on your background and should be based in greys or browns, but not both. To make it less stressful for mom, who’s usually the organizer, she should plan her outfit first and coordinate other outfits around hers. Think along the lines of complementary colors and not necessarily matching perfectly; and definitely no logos or neons.
Clothing Tip: Drive by or walk around your photo location ahead of time to get a feel for what colors would work well with the surroundings.
Old Poway Park 14134 Midland Rd., Poway 858-668-4576 Online: poway.org
Take the stress out of your photo session by planning ahead by choosing a fun location to explore afterward. A week before you take photos, loosely pick out a few wardrobe colors, look at some poses from other pictures, and schedule it for a time when everyone won’t be rushed. Tell your group it’ll be a 30-minute session so they’ll know what to expect. Let them have fun and go explore the area afterward so this will give them something fun to look forward to.
Time Saving Tip: Invest in a wireless remote control camera timer for as little as $14. This will let you keep taking photos without stopping to go check and see if it turned out. The remote is easy to hide in your hand, especially if that arm is hugging your family.
Spanish Village 1770 Village Pl., Balboa Park 619-233-9050 Online: spanishvillageart.com
Don’t 'shutter' at the thought of a family photo session. If you keep it fun and relaxed that will reflect a wonderful moment in time. If you are relaxed, your children will be too. Be sure to keep your background simple so it doesn’t compete with your family.
Holiday Card Tip: Leave some open space in your composition so you can add a nice “Warmest Wishes” text overlay when it comes time to print your holiday cards.
Portrait perfect! Use your phone’s “portrait mode” to project yourselves while beautifully blurring the background (called Bokeh) and giving your photos more depth. This will dramatically improve your photos and will even rival those of professionals.
Focus Tip: Portrait mode only works if the subjects in the foreground are distanced from the background, so take a few steps forward towards the camera.
Mission San Luis Rey 4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside 760-757-3651 Online: sanluisrey.org
Get candid! My biggest tip with kids is to engage them in a fun activity, instead of trying to pose them. Making cookies in the kitchen, jumping on the bed or blowing bubbles by your front door will give you some genuine smiles. And if that doesn’t get you a cute photo, then tell some silly jokes or make funny noises to get them to laugh.
Candid Tip: Giving unsuspecting hugs and kisses will always put a smile on someone’s face… and makes for some pretty cute candids.
Don’t focus so much on where to take your photos because your front porch is often the perfect place! Aim to photograph the last hour of the day or early morning. If that's not possible, be sure all of you are in a shaded area to avoid funky shadows. Tidy up your setting by sweeping, add some flower pots or a simple door wreath to give some color, but don’t clutter it up or you’ll get lost in it.
Tripod Tip: If you don’t have a tripod, then improvise by grabbing a chair, an overturned bucket and stack books on top until you reach the desired height.
Get a little closer, now don’t be shy. Cozy up close to those you love, this will limit gaps in between people and makes for a better photo. Tell everyone where to stand, where to put their hands and which way to look. Families look more connected and loving if they’re hugging or touching in some way.
Posing Tip: Make sure everyone’s eyes are looking in the same direction or else they’ll all look distracted.
Impress and awe your little ones (and your Instagram followers) with larger-than-life art murals around San Diego. From the most southwesterly point in the Continental United States to an art gallery visible only by bicycle, you are sure to take epic photos and make lasting memories. Now before the summer ends, scroll down to find your next art appreciation adventure.
Go on your very own treasure hunt. It's a simple a walk on the pier in Imperial Beach and at the end of the pier behind the restaurant, you will find this mind-blowing mural. It marks the most southwesterly point in the continental United States, down to its coordinates. After snapping some insta-worthy photos, enjoy ocean views with the highly-rated fish-n-chips from the Tin Fish.
As part of the 2020 #JoyOfBeingOutside Billboard Competition, this mural can be found at the Children's Discovery Museum in Escondido. After checking out the mural, let your kids discover, experiment, imagine and explore inside. It is now open to all visitors, no reservations are necessary.
320 North Broadway Escondido, Ca Online: sdcdm.org
Sleeping Tigers Mural
Awaken the tiger in you and pose with the sleepy rainbow tigers on the corner of Carlsbad Blvd. and Lincoln St as you walk the Village in Carlsbad. Then, stop in for a coffee treat at Sleeping Tiger Coffees and a strawberry treat for your littles at the Strawberry Shack next door. The Strawberry Shack has every strawberry dessert imaginable and possibly the best strawberry ice cream ever!
Nothing's better than a coffee break that fuels you and entertains your littles. With this cute play on words, you can find these buzzing bees behind Better Buzz coffee shop in Encinitas. Afterward make sure to visit the playground at Moonlight State Beach, only half a mile away from the mural!
If your little one is a big athlete, then this mural of baseball star Fernando Tatis Jr. is sure to make him cheer. Make sure and get your selfie with one of three Padres murals painted this year around San Diego. This one can be found on the wall of Appletree market in Ocean Beach. Snap photos, grab snacks and make it a beach day!
4976 Newport Ave. San Diego, Ca
Artlexia Mural
Just like the shop, this mural is colorful and inspiring. After stopping to strike a pose, you and your little artist will have a great time browsing at the charming Artlexia that's filled with Mexican gifts and art. Don't be surprised if your budding creative wants to find a blank canvas to paint on the way home.
North Park 3803 Ray St. San Diego, Ca Online: artelexia.com
Birch Aquarium Whale Mural
Nikki Walsh
Catch a cute pic of your kiddo admiring the under the sea whale mural at the Birch Aquarium. Then head inside for a fun-filled afternoon. Plus, you'll find plenty of additional Instagram worthy shots at this sea side treasure trove. Read our guide to Birch Aquarium here to make the most of your visit!
2300 Expedition Way La Jolla, Ca 858-534-3474 Online: aquarium.ucsd.edu
Looking for an activity-filled day with an extra dose of art? Grab your bikes and head to Bayshore Bikeway near Bay Blvd. in Chula Vista for an outdoor art gallery featuring 11 Artists. The total route consists of 24 miles so make sure to park near the gallery in case little legs tire out. Chula Vista Bayfront Park is a good starting point with restrooms and a playground about one mile north of the gallery.
Take a walk at The Headquarters at Seaport Village and discover this beautiful mural to take your next family photo at! Then enjoy all that this shopping, dining and entertainment hub has to offer.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall for Hallmark teethers. The Teether Rings come with decorative fabric, plush attachments and a wooden ring that can break into small pieces and pose a choking hazard.
Approximately 15,500 teethers were sold in the United States from Jun. 2015 through Jun. 2021 for $10 to $25. The products were purchased from Hallmark Gold Crown stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, boutique gift shops and at hallmark.com.
photo: CPSC
This recall applies to 11 different styles of round teethers, each sold with a gray woven brand label with the Hallmark brand crown and a hangtag. They were described as either “Plush and Wood Teether and Rattle” or “Wood and Detachable Cloth Teether for Little Droolers.”
Recalled teethers will have date codes of JUL15, 1117, 0618, 0719, or 1020. Parents can check specific SKU codes on the CPSC website here.
If you have a teether subject to the recall, immediately take away from children and contact Hallmark for a $25 gift card. Hallmark can be reached at 800-425-5627 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or online at hallmark.com/recall
UPPAbaby has recalled certain RumbleSeat accessory adaptors because they can become detached, posing a fall hazard to children. So far, the company has received 135 reports of detachments and 77 incidents resulting in injuries that include two broken noses.
The accessory attached to UPPAbaby strollers with two plastic adaptors and impacts RumbleSeat Models 0252, 0917 and 0918. The adaptors were sold at baby and children’s speciality stores from Oct. 2014 through Jul. 2019 for $180 to $200.
photo: Courtesy of CPSC
To see if your RumbleSeat is part of the recall, you can locate the model numbers on the underside of the seat, and also check if your adaptor has yellow tabs, per the photo above. Parents can also head to uppababy.com to get more info.
If your adaptor does not have yellow tags, stop using it immediately and contact UPPAbaby via the website to fill out information for a free replacement adaptor set.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of several Ergobaby strollers. Certain models have buttons that can become detached and pose a choking hazard.
The affected models include the METROUS1, METROUS2 and METROUS4 Compact City Strollers and impact about 2,800 products. Keep scrolling to see all the details.
The METROUS1, METROUS2 and METROUS4 Compact City Strollers contain a black button on the middle of the buckle that releases the harness and are difficult to release. They can then break off while a child is in the stroller and be a potential choking hazard.
The recalled strollers were sold online at ErgoBaby.com, AlbeeBaby.com and Amazon.com from Jul. 2018 through Sept. 2019 for about $300.
To determine if your stroller is part of the recall, check the model name located on the inside of the frame, above the right-side rear wheel. The models have a black, gray, or teal blue canopy and Ergo Baby printed on the front bottom of the stroller.
If you have a recalled stroller, you should stop using it until you contact Ergobaby for instructions and a get full free replacement restraint harness with buckle. Consumers can contact the company toll-free at 888-416-4888 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email at Support@Ergobaby.com, or online at www.ergobaby.com and click on “Safety Notifications” at the bottom of the page for more information.
Ergobaby has received 15 reports of broken buckles but no injuries at this time.
I’m going on the record saying that “Instagram for Kids” might be the worst idea I’ve ever heard, and here’s why: a platform like that will have consequences. Facebook, as a company, makes very intentional decisions—and all the negative impacts from this decision are fairly easy to anticipate. I’ve even listed them out below. And, as surely as Instagram for Kids is a bad idea, Facebook will spin its inevitable issues as “unintended consequences.” Because I’m a parent and the founder of a tech company dedicated to improving technology for our children, the consequences feel obvious, not “unintended.”
A Platform Built on Comparison & Competition
Instagram is the poster child of striving for perfection. I’ve written before that social validation is the number one thing I worry about as a parent, especially in the context of rising depression and anxiety rates among youth. Unlike many, I don’t solely place the blame on smartphones or social media, and in general, I’m pretty pro-technology. We could argue correlation vs causation all day, but I’ve seen enough anecdotal evidence to change the way I view technology and how I parent. The fact is that likes and followers matter to kids, and many measure their self-worth this way. We’ve seen social validation mechanisms like this show up in apps for kids like PopJam, but Instagram takes that to a whole new level.
An Easy Target for Online Predators
This feels like stating the obvious, but a platform where children post pictures of themselves, their friends and their lives is ripe for online predation, and cases of children being groomed and abused via adult social media platforms are already well documented. A particularly disturbing documentary from Bark Technologies demonstrated how quickly it can happen. Their team collaborated with law enforcement to create fictional profiles of teens and tweens to see how quickly predators would reach out, and within one hour of posting a profile for a fake 15-year-old girl on Instagram, seven adult men attempted to contact her. After nine days, 92 potential predators had made contact. The team then launched an 11-year-old persona, and within minutes, multiple would-be abusers reached out. The dangers are real.
Usually, platforms designed for kids need to verify that an adult is an adult, but “Instagram for Kids” may pose the opposite. It could be difficult to prevent predators from posing as children to gain access and follow young users. The last thing I want to do is instill panic in parents, but the stats are grim: from January to September 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 30,236 reports of possible online enticement. And those are just the ones that were reported. I can’t help but feel that “Instagram for Kids” would be enticing to predators—and while that clearly isn’t Facebook’s intention, it’s certainly easy to predict.
The Trouble with Locking It down
Kids want to feel empowered. If Facebook severely limits what kids can do on “Instagram for Kids,” they’ll hate it. Just look at the example of YouTube. It’s the number one most-loved brand among kids—blowing YouTube Kids out of the water. Any parent will confirm that kids do NOT want to feel like babies. Adult platforms simply do not retrofit easily to serve kids. They’re built with specific goals and it’s very difficult to secure them in a way that’s appropriate for children. YouTube Kids had videos with sexual content and suicide instructions. Facebook Messenger Kids had a design flaw that allowed kids to connect with strangers. Retrofitting just doesn’t work.
Kidfluencers Version 2.0
Unless Instagram for Kids is a closed platform, I think we’ll see a rise of kidfluencers. Perhaps the most notable example of this phenomenon is Ryan Kaji, the kid behind the highest-earning YouTube channel in 2018 and 2019. As a platform for youth under 13, “Instagram for Kids” might restrict ads—but how will they manage influencing? These contracts are made outside of the platform, offering individuals compensation for featuring or mentioning certain products or services in videos, photos or comments. Even some adults can’t always tell when they are being sold to, and I suspect it will be all the more difficult for children. And there’s precedent for this kind of thing: Walmart, Staples and Mattel have bankrolled endorsement deals for kids and tweens in the past. While kids who star in television and movies are protected by legislation requiring that their earnings be placed in a trust, there is nothing to protect income generated by kidfluencers—leaving kids potentially exposed to exploitation.
Should We Create Kids Cigarettes While We’re at It?
For all the reasons listed above, “Instagram for Kids” is a “hard no” for me. But you often hear people argue that kids are using the platform anyhow, so why not create a separate platform with a few more parental controls? To me, this argument is fundamentally flawed. After all, kids are often attracted to things that aren’t safe or healthy for them. Many are intrigued by smoking, drinking and drugs, but there’s a reason we don’t just lower the drinking and smoking age. As a society, we’ve agreed that some things are best left until kids grow up a bit—and I think Instagram is one of them.
The answer to children using Instagram isn’t to put up a few guardrails. It doesn’t address the root problem at all. The effects of these platforms on youth are still largely unknown, but the anecdotal evidence points to the fact that they probably do more harm than good. Using our kids as guinea pigs in a real-life experiment isn’t the answer. Kids are the fastest-growing group of internet users and have unique needs that have to be protected—not exploited by Big Tech.
Sean Herman is the founder and CEO of Kinzoo, an exciting new company that helps parents turn screen time into family time. His first book, "Screen Captured," debuted at number one in Amazon's parenting category, and his writing separates technology fact from fiction for his fellow parents.