Facebook Privacy and Minors

[user1023]

Here is my question: Is posting a link on the internet to the Facebook profile picture of a minor against the law? To be clear, this is the picture that anyone can see and is meant for public viewing. I was told doing this would break Federal and State laws.

 

[LdiJ]

Here is my question: Is posting a link on the internet to the profile picture of a minor against the law? To be clear, this is the picture that anyone can see and is meant for public viewing. I was told doing this would break Federal and State laws.

I don't know if it does or not, but I think it would be a really foolish thing to do.

 

[Zigner]

I don't know if it does or not, but I think it would be a really foolish thing to do.

(based only on the question asked without reading anything in to it...) Why?

 

[user1023]

I don't know if it does or not, but I think it would be a really foolish thing to do.

When I say post on the internet, I do not mean something such as posting the link on a website for all to see. It is more along the lines of private communication on the internet between a small group of people.

 

[Antigone*]

When I say post on the internet, I do not mean something such as posting the link on a website for all to see. It is more along the lines of private communication on the internet between a small group of people.

How old are you, and how old is the child with the Facebook account?

 

[Zigner]

And, what is the purpose of passing on this information?

 

[LdiJ]

(based only on the question asked without reading anything in to it...) Why?

Unless its passing around a family member's picture to other family members or close friends, it gives the appearance of impropriety, at least.

 

[user1023]

Does the exact age matter? The child would be a minor and the person posting the link would be a legal adult. The people being given the link would be a mix of legal adults and minors. Because I know how people's minds work, let me assure you there is nothing 'dirty' about this situation. Here I will write an example of how this situation could have came up.

The Minor will be referred to as A.
The legal adult who would be posting the link will be referred to as B.



B and a group of friends were wondering who A was so B typed in A's name on Facebook and found someone who could have been A. The age of A is still completely unknown as it is not listed on the profile. B then copied the link to A's Facebook profile picture and showed it to his friends and said that's A.


So I know that it is not exactly nice for someone to post someone's Facebook profile picture without telling them, but can anyone tell me if it actually breaks any laws?

 

[Zigner]

The tone of your reply makes me think that your scenario is not what's really going on. I apologize to LdiJ for questioning her intuition on this one.

 

[CdwJava]

While I am awfully suspicious of the motivations to post a link to a child's image on Facebook, I cannot see anything unlawful in referring others to a link that is publicly viewable on the internet already.

I am sickened that it might be for some perverse prurient interests, or some sick and twisted immoral desire, but it would appear to be perfectly lawful.

 

[user1023]

The tone of your reply makes me think that your scenario is not what's really going on. I apologize to LdiJ for questioning her intuition on this one.

What do you mean? When my teachers told me I had problems with the tone of my writing I did not believe them, I actually laughed when I read that. But honestly, whats the problem? I have no reason to lie about what happened on here, I am here to try and get help on the question whether anything illegal happened. I am leaving out specifics such as the exact age of parties involved for privacy reasons.


Like I said, there is absolutely nothing sexual about this.

 

[Zigner]

I am leaving out specifics such as the exact age of parties involved for privacy reasons.

And THAT is what gives me that icky feeling. If there were nothing nefarious in the intent, then what would it matter?

 

[Silverplum]

What do you mean? When my teachers told me I had problems with the tone of my writing I did not believe them, I actually laughed when I read that. But honestly, whats the problem? I have no reason to lie about what happened on here, I am here to try and get help on the question whether anything illegal happened. I am leaving out specifics such as the exact age of parties involved for privacy reasons.

Sure you are, because there are only a couple of kids in the world of each age: three 13 y.o.s, eight 14 y.o.s, half a dozen 15 y.o.s -- you need to keep the "identities" of your "parties" private.

 

[user1023]

And THAT is what gives me that icky feeling. If there were nothing nefarious in the intent, then what would it matter?

I completely see where you are coming from. When it comes to children and interaction with adults, thats something your mind jumps too. If you think it actually matters what ages they are, I will tell you since someone said what happened wasnt illegal. The minor, as we were later informed, is thirteen years old. The person who posted the link is eighteen years old.