The parents decide, also in a closed group
Datatilsynet, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, wrote a guide about photos of children online, “I beste mening” (“With the best intentions”) (source 8). These are the main points.
- The parents decide. “For children and young people, the guardians make the decision, even when the publication is about the child.” (source 1)
- Ask the parents of other children. “Never share photos of other people’s children without consent from their guardians.” (source 2)
- The rules apply in closed groups too. Datatilsynet writes that the need for consent applies “also if the photos are shared in open or closed groups”. (source 1)
- Ask before you share. The main rule is that you must get consent before you share the photo, also when you only pass on a photo you got. (source 1)
- Ask the child anyway. Datatilsynet writes “Always ask the children”, and you must respect the answer. (source 2)
Quotes are our translations from Norwegian.
7 tips before you share
- Share with few people. Choose who sees the photo before you share it. Datatilsynet recommends sharing in closed groups and sharing as few photos as possible. (source 2)
- Ask the child. Datatilsynet suggests this question: “Is it OK with you if I share this photo with my family or friends?” (source 2)
- Ask before you share photos of other people’s children. If another child is in the photo, you need consent from that child’s parents, and that also applies in closed groups. (sources 1, 2)
- Don’t share photos of naked or lightly dressed children. Datatilsynet writes “Avoid nudity/lightly dressed children”, and that includes photos of children in a nappy and photos from the bath. (source 3)
- Don’t show where the child is. Don’t share a name and a place with the photo, and turn off location services in the apps where you share photos. (sources 3, 4)
- Make rules with the rest of the family. Agree on what is OK, for example that Grandpa can show the photo to the neighbour, but not post it on Facebook.
- Delete often, and think 10 years ahead. Datatilsynet asks: “Is it a nice photo that the child will like to see in 10 years?” (sources 3, 6)
What do the children say?
Researchers at SIFO, OsloMet, talked with children in two age groups, 9–12 and 13–18, about parents who share photos (source 5).
“Ask before you share!”
The children didn’t want to be shown in vulnerable situations, for example lightly dressed or ill. The youngest knew the least and were the most negative about parents sharing photos of them, and the children were also afraid of bullying.
Agree on the rules in the family
Bufdir, the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs, recommends setting limits for grandparents who share many photos of their grandchildren, and agreeing on shared rules that everyone in the family keeps to (source 7). Copy the list and send it to grandparents, aunts and uncles.
- The photos stay in the family, and we don’t post them on social media.
- We don’t share photos of other people’s children without asking their parents.
- We don’t share photos where the children are naked or lightly dressed.
- We ask the children when they are old enough to answer.
- If a child says no, we don’t share the photo.
Who do you have to ask?
| Who has to say yes | Worth knowing | |
|---|---|---|
| Your own child | You, as the parent. | Ask the child too. Datatilsynet writes “Always ask the children”. (source 2) |
| Your grandchild, nephew or niece | The child’s parents. | That also applies in the family chat and in closed groups. (source 1) |
| Another child in the photo from the birthday party | That child’s parents. | Ask before you share, not afterwards. (sources 1, 2) |
| An adult in the family | The person themselves. | The main rule is that you must get consent before you share the photo. (source 1) |
How to ask for a photo to be removed
If someone posted a photo of your child without asking, first contact the person who posted it and ask them to remove it. If that does not help, you can contact the website or the app where the photo is (source 1).
How to do it with skokk
We make skokk, an app where only the people the family invites can see the photos. There are no public profiles, and for each photo you choose whether it stays for 2 days, 5 days or forever.
skokk does not change the rules. In a closed group too, you ask the child first, and the parents before you share photos of their children. If you already have a shared album or a family chat, the same rules apply there, and then you do not need a new app.
If you want to compare skokk with a shared album or a family chat, read the guide to sharing photos with your family.
Read what skokk stores about youThe app is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
Get skokkSources
We checked the sources in October 2026.
- Datatilsynet: Deling av bilder (in Norwegian). datatilsynet.no/personvern-pa-ulike-omrader/internett-og-apper/bilder-pa-nett
- Datatilsynet: Bilder av barn på nett (sjekkliste) (in Norwegian). datatilsynet.no/personvern-pa-ulike-omrader/skole-barn-unge/bilder-av-barn-pa-nett
- Datatilsynet: Vurder innholdet i bildene (in Norwegian). datatilsynet.no/…/bilder-av-barn-pa-nett/vurder-innholdet-i-bildene
- Datatilsynet: Vurder kanalvalg (in Norwegian). datatilsynet.no/…/bilder-av-barn-pa-nett/vurder-kanalvalg
- OsloMet: Barn med gode råd om foreldres bildedeling (SIFO-rapport 9-2023, «Sharenting – til barnets beste?») (in Norwegian). oslomet.no/forskning/forskningsnyheter/barn-med-gode-rad-om-foreldres-bildedeling
- Datatilsynet: Slett jevnlig (in Norwegian). datatilsynet.no/…/bilder-av-barn-pa-nett/slett-jevnlig
- Bufdir: Bildedeling og samtykke (in Norwegian). bufdir.no/foreldrehverdag/smabarn/digital-hverdag/bildedeling-og-samtykke
- Datatilsynet: «I beste mening» (PDF, 2018) (in Norwegian). datatilsynet.no/…/i_beste_mening_2018_print_lavopplost.pdf
