7 Things Your Daughter Shouldn’t Post on Instagram

223 likes.

527 followers.

You are so perfect.

Love you so much.

But does your daughter know what matters to you when it comes to her presence online?

We’ve given our girls permission to have an Instagram account, but are we teaching them how to appropriately represent themselves on the popular social media site?

Instagram offers us a great excuse to communicate with our daughter about our family value system. Talk to her about how she posted images and words matter. Help her understand that what she does and says online makes up her reputation.

1. Selfies

There simply isn’t a need for turning the camera around on yourself, puckering up your lips, and posting such an image. I’m all for girlfriends posing and making silly faces together, but let’s raise confident girls who don’t need to post continuous photos of their faces. Just say no to the solo selfie.

2. Provocative swimsuit photos

There is no need, at any age, to show your body online to anyone no matter how cute or fit you may be. Living in Arizona where the sun always shines means girls are constantly in bikinis poolside. I have asked my daughter to be mindful of posting photos online of herself, alone or with friends, in swimwear.

When we vacationed at the beach last year, my daughter asked me to take some pictures of her and then asked me to help her pick appropriate ones to post. The only images of her in a two-piece that appear on Instagram are ones that I have taken and we approved together.

3. Her entire life

We should all be living our best life offline. Social media should only contain a fraction of the goodness that is really going on in our lives. All of us know people who post every detail of their days online. We know where they are, who they’re with, what they’re doing, and what food they are eating. There is nothing interesting about the person who puts every minute of their life continuously on social media.

4. Images to hurt another

My daughter knows I don’t think it’s a good idea to post big group photos of girls at parties because someone will inevitably be hurt by the fact they weren’t included in the fun. Not worth it. I ask her to always think of others before posting something on Instagram. On the other hand, I also tell her that she can’t always worry about how someone else might react to her photo either.

5. Material Purchases

This is an absolute no-no. Never post new shoes, new clothes, new electronics, new anything. Who cares? We want to raise humble kids who aren’t defined by the things they own. The haul and unboxing videos on YouTube are a prime example of what not to do.

6. Inappropriate comments

Not only do people view our original posts but they also see what we comment on friend’s pictures.

A teacher alerted me to some smiley, yet off-color comments that were made on one of my daughter’s posts. She talked with her and explained to the other girls why they needed to rethink and remove their comments.

7. Anything negative

College admissions officers will absolutely pull up our daughter’s social media accounts one day. Questionable language and negative posts can make the school of her dreams hesitant in accepting her a few years from now. Help your child understand that how she represents herself online today will matter later.

Yes, the likes, followers, and positive feedback all matter to our daughters.

Teaching self-worth, modesty, empathy, humility, and appropriate communication matter to me as her mother and I’m using Instagram as an avenue to instill these important values.

What values are you teaching your daughter through her smartphone and social media use?