Manners Matter: To Facebook or Not To Facebook

Dear Mary Pat,

We had a barbecue last weekend and I took a lot of photos of my friends and their families. I shared a few of the good pictures on my Facebook page and got a text from a friend saying to please take the pictures down  that include her and her family. I know she doesn’t have a Facebook account, so another one of our friends must have told her. I didn’t think that it would be a big deal and it didn’t occur to me to ask permission. Should I have asked first?  It seems a little strange to not want a group picture online.

Signed,

Perplexed by Pictures

Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Dear Perplexed by Pictures,

You are obviously comfortable sharing photos on your social media accounts, but not everyone is. Your friend may just be extremely private or maybe she just doesn’t want pictures of her children floating around in cyberspace. Whatever the reason is, you should respect her decision and not post any details about her or her family. In future, you will know that this friend doesn’t want you to share details about her life online. It’s also a good idea to check with the rest of your friends first as well, especially when it involves their children.

Good luck,

Mary Pat