Week in Review #11: A quick rant, a favorite black outfit & new sunglasses

Mostly positive response, but I did ruffle a few feathers (as this topic often does)

This week I shared a quick little rant on Instagram that probably 99% of people responded positively to, and 1% were really bothered by. It went like this…

It’s 2024. There is no reason to share photos and personal details of minors online. We know better. Children (and babies!) deserve privacy and safety and have no ability to consent to their image and private information being shared publicly. Please, for their sake, stooppppp 🙏🏼

A lot of people asked me what prompted it, and honestly I feel that way almost every single day. I’ve personally unfollowed everyone on Instagram whose content is based on sharing their kids, yet it seems impossible to completely avoid.

Maybe there’s an increase because it’s summer break now, or maybe it’s that people have realized that posts with children in them tend to get more engagement, plus add a layer of relatability. I’m not totally sure, and while I trust that the overwhelming majority of parents and educators and caretakers sharing photos and personal details about kids online have zero malicious intent, it doesn’t change the fact that the internet is a really icky place that everybody has access to and the fact that children really aren’t able to properly consent to their photo being shared (and possibly screenshot and saved or re-shared/manipulated and used for any purpose).

I don’t need to get into it too much further, as I feel like I’ve said what I needed to say, but I will leave you with a few things to read/watch if this topic interests you (or perhaps you’re a parent and you’re grappling with what to share)…

• The Influencer Is a Young Teenage Girl. The Audience Is 92% Adult Men (no paywall on this article about the same topic)

• This post from Mom Uncharted

• “Why you should think twice before posting that cute photo of your kid online”

• This video about consent, deepfakes and general risks involved with images of children being shared (and a longer post about it here)

Thought of the Week

via @thegoodquote

What I Wore This Week

Last week was all about easing myself into summer style now that we are finally getting a bit of warmth and sunshine here. Below is my favorite look of the week, and you can see the rest of the looks here.

New Sunnies — Just Dropped!

A little peek at the newest additions to the NBD sunglasses lineup, just in time for summer trips & days in the sun…

Which one is your favorite?!

Recent Saves

Below is a little collection of some interesting posts that I saved here on Substack this week and I found thought-provoking…

The Astroturfing of (Fashion) Culture | “Fast fashion has indelibly altered the fashion landscape by prioritising speed, affordability and in-the-moment relevance over quality and originality…and ethics. Sure, it democratises (read: homogenises) access [but at what cost?]. But it also democratises (homogenises) the thinking, too: when everyone, everywhere has access to the same styles at the same time, then of course everyone, everywhere begins to dress alike.”

The astroturfing of (fashion) culture

Saturday Style Note: What is your definition of luxury? | “The truth of the matter is, we all need to consume less and if we do buy, to think about a garment’s life journey and longevity. Anyone who has worked with me knows, the most sustainable garment is the one already hanging in your wardrobe. To be stylish is not to be trendy; it’s to know yourself and your values and to apply them to your wardrobe as you do other aspects of life.”

Saturday Style Note

An Argument for Getting Dressed | “Clothing is armor. Not a charade. Not a farce. But a powerful extension of ourselves. We subconsciously know clothing is a no-contact communication cue to the world around us. It allows us to say something without saying anything.”

An Argument for Getting Dressed

I Regret What’s in My Camera Roll | “Over time, my photos begin to transform. The "stupid but sweet" snapshots start to give way to something different. There is a new focus, an attempt to present an aesthetic, an idea, an editorial "look." Many of my photos no longer even feature people. Instead, they become dominated by images of myself alone, or empty landscapes. What has replaced the people? Objects.”

I Regret What's In My Camera Roll

Is the End of Social Media Near? | “But what does surprise me is the widespread enthusiasm for replacing human art with AI art by fellow humans. I wonder if our need for humanity and connection is collectively fading away, or if we just don’t understand the impact of removing the human touch in art and writing.”

Is the end of social media near?

Hope you have a great weekend — until next time!

xx
Natalie

Legit Mom Style is paywall-free and available to everyone. You can support this newsletter (and my work) by liking this post, leaving a comment and sharing it with anyone who you think would enjoy it. Thanks for being here!