I started Diapoint over a decade ago. It was born out of a blog I did not anticipate writing as I shared my caregiver journey raising a young child with Type 1 Diabetes.
From there, things grew, and as you likely know, we support families and individuals navigating life with diabetes. Every day, I see incredible courage, resilience, and love—from both parents and children who manage this condition.
People approach me often and tell me that their children will be happy to talk about Diapoint or living with diabetes on social media. I still find that using children in online messaging is a slippery slope, and I am not quite sure how I feel about it.
Should Children’s Images Be On Social Media?
We have some vendors who send us images with children in their products for illustrative purposes, or we’ll put the happy emoji over a child’s face from time to time. These deliberate choices are rooted in consent, care, respect, and responsibility.
And yes, our children have access to the internet and social media, and they are wiser than we were at that age. However, I’m still super mindful that they are growing up in a time when images circulate endlessly online, often beyond our control.
Once a child’s photo or video is shared publicly, it can be downloaded, reposted, or used in ways that were never intended. Protecting the safety, privacy, and dignity of all children needs to be considered before any marketing goal. Even if there isn’t a marketing goal, their stories belong to them, and no matter how well-intentioned we are, do we have the right to ownership of that?
I’ve had my son on my podcast before, and I recently shared a photo of him when he was younger with his permission. He will be an official adult in just a few weeks. I’ve shared a few other images over the years where you cannot see his face. This feels safe for us, although I’m still not quite sure how I feel about it.
There’s also a deeper emotional layer. Using children to promote something can unintentionally shape how they see themselves, tying their worth to likes, shares, and comments.
I recall one instance back in what I would call the naïve, early days of a certain social media platform. My son and I were creating some art, and I shared a photo of him with his creation. That day after school, he asked me, “Let’s see how many likes my photo got.” I felt awful and immediately removed it. I explained to him that this was not important, but little did I know it would soon become one of the most important marketing tools and addictions for many in his lifetime.
Social Media Lowers Teen Self Esteem
Research shows that teens who receive fewer likes on social media posts report lower self-esteem, increased feelings of rejection, and even symptoms of depression and anxiety. This effect is strongest among those who are already vulnerable, such as youth who feel excluded, have experienced peer victimization or bullying. Imagine how amplified this is in teens who have been using social media for years.
No child should have to carry that kind of added pressure. We want the children in our community to grow up confident in who they are—not because their picture appeared in a campaign, but because they feel valued and supported as individuals.
Instead of visuals that feature children in our community, our storytelling focuses on education, empowerment, and shared experience. We do share the voices of parents, healthcare professionals, older adults, and young adults. This approach helps us highlight the human side of diabetes without compromising anyone’s privacy or well-being.
Our decision is not just about compliance or caution, it’s about compassion. Behind every story is a real person, and behind every child is a family trusting us. That trust means everything to us, and we will always do our best to protect it.
Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe I’m not. I continue to be mindful in our approach when it comes to children.
