Most Facebook users have uploaded photographs that they wish they hadn’t. The trouble with Facebook is that as soon you upload something, everyone on your friends list, including family members, can see it. Then, whenever anyone comments on it, everyone on THEIR friends list can also see it (unless of course you’re very alert with your privacy settings, which most people aren’t).
This works well for Internet marketing as you can help to promote a website or business very effectively using social networking websites such as Facebook, but when you’re uploading photos of yourself and your family, it can be problematic.
It certainly was for Rebecca Davey, an 18 year old mother from Essex. She uploaded a photo of her baby boy Ollie to Facebook, who is only six months old, with an unlit cigarette in his mouth.
One of the Rebecca’s friends, or possibly even someone who saw the photo and wasn’t on her friends list, reported her to the police, who investigated Rebecca – concerned for Ollie’s safety.
Rebecca changed her Facebook status to comment on the fact that someone had reported her:
“Some w***** reported me to the police abwt picture off ollie.”
On visiting Rebecca and Ollie’s home in Essex, the police said they found nothing to concern them. Social Services were also involved, with Sue Cook – the head of specialist children’s services, stating:
“Police officers visited the family home on Saturday and, although no evidence of criminal wrongdoing emerged, words of advice were given to the parent.
Essex Police then referred the matter back to the council and we will be visiting the family concerned today (Tuesday).
The purpose of the visit is to carry out an assessment aimed at ensuring that any child within the household is being appropriately cared for.”
Further posts were then made on Rebecca’s Facebook page, with Rebecca writing:
“Why Would SomeOne Do That To Me U Ollie No was taking U Yur Mine for lyfee Darlinggg Mummy Loves You
”
One of Rebecca’s friends showed her support by adding:
“Some ppl r nosey f****** aint they!! dw ur a good mum they wont hassle u 4 long!!!”
Not everyone thought Rebecca made a good mother however, believing the act of putting a real cigarette into the mouth of a baby wasn’t a very responsible thing to do.
“What chance has the kid got if the family behave like this?”
The picture of Ollie with a cigarette in his mouth has now been removed from Facebook.
