Is Using Facebook Irresponsible Parenting?

I just finished reading the many, many comments from an Ask Moxie post. Moxie had discovered that photos of her kids were being posted on Facebook without her consent -- not specifically of her kids but in group shots at a birthday party. Gobsmacked, she asked the mom responsible for posting said pictures to remove them and not to post photos of her kids in the future. The mom said fine but that Moxie's kids would no longer be invited to her kids' parties.

Ouch.

I really don't like being a parent in this social media society. It's so new and the "rules" really aren't clear. Before it used to be "drugs are bad", "don't have sex", "don't drive and drive". Now you have to think about privacy settings and what it will mean long-term to post something of your child's life on the internet.

I wish there was someone to tell me what to do. Someone who can see into the future and say, "In 20 years from now Jr will hate the fact that there are photos of her on the net from when she was 1 year old" or "In 20 years from now Jr will not be affected in the slightest by your social sharing".

Unfortunately, there's no one who can assure me either way. I know that the easiest thing to do would be to avoid it altogether. Hubby and I did that for a long time. But when the majority of your extended family lives out of province and the majority of your family is online sharing and enjoying themselves, the temptation to join is difficult to overcome. I want people to see Jr! I want friends and family to see how darn cute she is and the latest thing she's learned. I'm technologically savvy enough to have my privacy settings on high. Only friends and family members of our choosing see what we post. But if someone from our list "Likes" a photo or comments on a photo, then everyone from their list can see it too. So exponentially, the number of people seeing a photo of Jr is quite high.

I'm not concerned with pedophiles or the government watching our every move (right, BIL?). I'm worried about the future and its unknowns. Worried what it means to be on the net and for posts/photos to never disappear. Will Jr curse us? Am I being an irresponsible parent? My intentions are pure, I don't mean to cause Jr any pain or suffering but then, smoking while pregnant used to be acceptable!

I guess we'll have to wait and see and be as responsible as we can.