It is not the first time fans (me included) have raised questions about Lynda Elstad taking photographs and videos of the said child when out in public and posting them online without the permission of the parents or child (the child is around 10 years old). The child’s name and the celebrity father will not be included in this post to protect their privacy and in particular the rights and privacy of the child.
One of the regular members of the group asked Lynda Elstad whether the photo was one of her photographs and whether she had the father’s permission to take it and post it online. Lynda Elstad replied…“All I am going to say is that you are entitled to your opinion…I am entitled to my own (and the father) is entitled to his. Oh yes, and that I would never share it if he had a problem with my doing so…” Removing photographs of children after they are posted online is too late because people have seen them and may or may not have copies of them.
When Lynda Elstad was further pressed about whether she had permission she stated the father was aware of the photograph and she had sent a copy to his official Twitter account. The tweet and attached photograph were not responded to by the father and only received one like. Other fans also believed the father was aware because of her actions on Twitter. However, sending tweets to official accounts is not permission.
I am wondering how the father was aware of the photograph when the post only received one favourite and he did not acknowledge it himself either through a favourite or a response. In fact he has not responded to Lynda Elstad and her thousands of tweets, photographs and videos in nearly three years. Twitter has a mute button in which account holders can send and receive tweets however, they will not appear in the muter’s timeline or notifications. There is a possibility she could be on mute. The father has stated on numerous occasions on social media that he does not have time to keep tract of what happens on fan pages.
So when pressured Lynda Elstad couldn’t say outright she had the father’s approval. Lynda Elstad went on to imply she had contact with the father outside of social media and sees him at private events where she does not take photographs and videos. “If you think the only place people communicate with one another is via social media, then that is an opinion to which you are entitled.” It is also not the first time she has implied she has a relationship of sorts and permission to take photographs and videos but when pushed further has not be able to clarify or produce evidence.
When further pressed Lynda Elstad was not willing to admit that she had permission to take photographs and videos and argued that her publishing photographs of another person’s child on social media are not other fan’s concern which of course it is. From my past experiences in this fandom Lynda Elstad does not take too kindly to any kind of criticism concerning either her behaviour at concerts taking photographs and videos and distributing them via social media.
There is an element of the fandom that ignores or supports Lynda Elstad’s concert going conduct regardless of the impact on those celebrities she continues to harass with her stalking and camera. The Facebook post attracted 71 likes or people approving her posting a photograph of the child taken without the parent’s or child’s permission. However, many of those who posted the likes also have Twitter accounts that follow the father but not one of them liked the photograph. There is evidence to support that belonging to this group is more important to the fans and they would rather not rock the fandom or page boat.
The fact that so many fans liked the photograph on Facebook raises serious concerns about the participation of adults on social media and their lack of knowledge of the consequences of their actions of posting photographs and videos of their own children and other people’s children online have now and in the future. The administrator of the page Helen Reynolds approved the posting of the photograph although she objected to the discussion and closed the comments sections. The administrator is a teacher in the education system in the United States. Educators and those people who work with children in most countries need permission from the parents or care givers to publish photographs of children as they realise the seriousness of posting photographs online. I am wondering why a person who is a teacher does not see this here.
Lynda Elstad believes her rights to post and publish photographs of other people’s children are the same as the parents which of course they are not. The only people who should post photographs of children are the parents or caregivers and they should be extremely careful about what they post. People should ask the parents or caregivers out of respect. Lynda Elstad has no place in creating a digital identity for a child that is not her own and is not related too in any capacity.
Lynda Elstad supported her right to post photographs and videos because the father had done a video for a charity with the child. The only difference is that the father would have asked the child’s permission and the child agreed. The father would also have control over the content. Lynda Elstad took and posted photographs which the mother, father and child did not agree too. The parents of the child rarely publish photographs online of their child and are extremely private people. When the father does they are done within recommended guidelines provided by experts for putting photographs of children online for example, not showing the face of the child which protects their privacy.
When researching articles about the impact of posting photographs of children online I found lots articles from reliable sources from Australia that give those posting photographs of children online something to think about. I have included a few quotes here for those interested in reading more about this topic and digital etiquette around children. I am sure there is similar research and articles that can be found for the United State and Canada.
“Should You Post Photos of Your Child On Social Media? And when does ‘sharenting’ do too far?” by Emily Blatchford in the HuffPost Australia 30 August, 2017.
“…Because the social media culture we’re currently living in is still so new, we don’t really have any idea if there are any long term implications for our children and if so what they will even be…
Ultimately the decision of whether or not to share photos of your children on social media is up to you, and of course there are many parents (and children) who don’t have a problem with it at all…
If your child is old enough, make sure you have permission. And if they aren’t old enough make sure the father or anyone else involved gives you consent…
“If you still want to stay mainstream, consider changing your privacy settings so only family and friends can access your account, and refrain from tagging your location or giving away personal information. You may also choose to share photos of your children, but not ones that reveal their faces…”
“Social Media: Think again before you post those pics of your kids.” By Joanne Orlando from www.abc.net.au published 27 December, 2016.
“…Posting embarrassing photos of others on Facebook without consent is definitely tricky territory, but what constitutes embarrassing is slightly different for everyone, which makes this new issue even more of a minefield…
Recent research from the University of Michigan asked children and parents to describe the rules they thought families should follow related to technology…
Many kids said parents should not post without asking them…
Asking your children’s consent is also part of the issue and part of the solution…
Asking if the child likes the photos of them and whether you can put it up online can be a very quick and respectful conversation. It also sets up a great approach to you kids understanding of digital etiquette…
“Tinder, Facebook images of children putting them at risk, authorities warn.” By Malcolm Sutton published www.abcnet.com.au on 29 December, 2016.
“… The Human Rights Commission is responsible for protecting child privacy rights in Australia – guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Australian Law Reform Commission released a report called Children, Young People an Attitudes to Privacy, which looked at whether the rights of young people were adequately protected…
The report found the public posting of non-sexual photographs of children could have serious implications for them and lead to consequences that included embarrassment, ridicule, bullying and invasion of privacy.
Lynda Elstad supported her right to post photographs and videos because the father had done a video for a charity with the child. The only difference is that the father would have asked the child’s permission and the child agreed. The father would also have control over the content. Lynda Elstad took and posted photographs which the mother, father and child did not agree too. The parents of the child rarely publish photographs online of their child and are extremely private people. When the father does they are done within recommended guidelines provided by experts for putting photographs of children online for example, not showing the face of the child which protects their privacy.
When researching articles about the impact of posting photographs of children online I found lots articles from reliable sources from Australia that give those posting photographs of children online something to think about. I have included a few quotes here for those interested in reading more about this topic and digital etiquette around children. I am sure there is similar research and articles that can be found for the United State and Canada.
“Should You Post Photos of Your Child On Social Media? And when does ‘sharenting’ do too far?” by Emily Blatchford in the HuffPost Australia 30 August, 2017.
“…Because the social media culture we’re currently living in is still so new, we don’t really have any idea if there are any long term implications for our children and if so what they will even be…
Ultimately the decision of whether or not to share photos of your children on social media is up to you, and of course there are many parents (and children) who don’t have a problem with it at all…
If your child is old enough, make sure you have permission. And if they aren’t old enough make sure the father or anyone else involved gives you consent…
“If you still want to stay mainstream, consider changing your privacy settings so only family and friends can access your account, and refrain from tagging your location or giving away personal information. You may also choose to share photos of your children, but not ones that reveal their faces…”
“Social Media: Think again before you post those pics of your kids.” By Joanne Orlando from www.abc.net.au published 27 December, 2016.
“…Posting embarrassing photos of others on Facebook without consent is definitely tricky territory, but what constitutes embarrassing is slightly different for everyone, which makes this new issue even more of a minefield…
Recent research from the University of Michigan asked children and parents to describe the rules they thought families should follow related to technology…
Many kids said parents should not post without asking them…
Asking your children’s consent is also part of the issue and part of the solution…
Asking if the child likes the photos of them and whether you can put it up online can be a very quick and respectful conversation. It also sets up a great approach to you kids understanding of digital etiquette…
“Tinder, Facebook images of children putting them at risk, authorities warn.” By Malcolm Sutton published www.abcnet.com.au on 29 December, 2016.
“… The Human Rights Commission is responsible for protecting child privacy rights in Australia – guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Australian Law Reform Commission released a report called Children, Young People an Attitudes to Privacy, which looked at whether the rights of young people were adequately protected…
The report found the public posting of non-sexual photographs of children could have serious implications for them and lead to consequences that included embarrassment, ridicule, bullying and invasion of privacy.
