Not everyone is proud of their childhood photos. Many went through awkward stages in their younger years, and having these images unearthed for the entire world to see is the last thing they would want.
However, you have those who are brave enough to post these pictures online. Here are some examples where people shared snapshots of themselves during carefree times. Most of these were taken before they hit puberty, went through teenage angst, and had zero stressors other than waking up early for school the next day.
These may not be your childhood photos, but they could nonetheless be a good source of nostalgia for you.
#1 My 1978 Birthday
Image source: reddit.com
#2 Me And My Dad Circa 1980
Image source: MaxStatic
#3 My 13th Birthday, July 2000
I’m the one in the yellow tank top looking wasted (I was waterlogged from spending about 8 hours in the pool on a hot day).
Image source: Nicole9Volt1
Before social media, it wasn’t as easy to share for parents to share childhood photos of their kids with many people. For the most part, these snapshots were confined within a photo album, only to be unearthed physically upon request.
It’s a much more touchy issue in the digital age, where people with ill intentions can easily snag sensitive information online, including photos. Yet, many parents still do so, seemingly unaware of the risks they’re putting their children through. Experts have referred to this practice as sharenting.
#4 My Sister And I Receiving Our 1st Gen Furbies Circa 1998
Our grandmother worked for Toys R Us and was able to score these bad boys for us.
Image source: AffectionateDegree56
#5 My Mom And Me, 1982
Image source: standuppaddler
#6 Nothing More Cool For 8-Year-Old Me In 1978
Image source: ecmcn
As University of Florida professor Stacey Steinberg tells UNICEF, sharenting is when parents talk about their children outside the family circle, whether it’s writing a blog post about their children, sending videos through messaging platforms like WhatsAppm and sharing photos on social media.
#7 Me And The Neighborhood Kids, Late 80s
We had all pooled our allowances to buy lumber and build a quarter pipe. What a great summer.
Image source: monctonmichou
#8 Classy Childhood Picture
Image source: kpluto
#9 Just Found This Photo Of My Childhood Self Getting My Hands On My First Fossil Packs
Image source: SlimTrek
“When we share things about our children online without involving them in that decision-making process, we’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to teach our children and model for our children the idea of consent,” Steinberg said, admitting that social media has made it difficult for parents to keep their children’s lives completely private.
#10 Mid 80s Madison Wisconsin. My Bike Crew
Image source: aoteroor
#11 June 1974, Nothing Beats A Ride In The Back Of The Wagon With The Window Open (Unless Yo Want To Breath)
Image source: redit-fan
#12 I Wasn’t Very Cool As A Kid, But In 1986 I Had A Pet Raccoon
My dad and I found a passed raccoon in an abandoned barn, and her kid was trying to suckle. We brought him home, and my family bottle-fed him. He was always allowed outside, but he bonded with our dogs, so he stayed with us until 1990. He started to wander into the woods and eventually went back to the wild.
Image source: woden_spoon
Research cited by Verywell Mind found that 74% of parents know at least one parent who overshares information about their children online. Likewise, 1 out of 10 parents shares information about their kids’ health issues.
As clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Anderson Kirby tells the publication, sharing sensitive information could compromise a child’s trust in their parent.
#13 My Parents Bred Golden Retrievers When I Was A Kid, I Loved Piling Them Anywhere I Could. My Wagon, My Bed, The Laundry Basket
Also featured is the mom of the puppies, my first dog, Mickey.
Image source: Sweet-Lady-H
#14 My Parents Working To Increase Blood Flow To Aid In Their Child’s Early Brain Development Circa 1982
Image source: TheKize
#15 My Childhood Bowling Team Posing With Our Trophies From The Season
Image source: daddyhoffmang
This isn’t to say that parents should completely avoid sharing about their kids on social media. Dr. Kirby suggested better ways to sharent, including posting anonymously in parental support groups.
But more importantly, Dr. Kirby advises parents to get consent from their children. Part of it is explaining to their kids what they want to share, and respecting their wishes if they say no.
#16 Took This Really Cute Pic At My Moms Wedding Party In 2003
Image source: joeyfromhackers
#17 My Mom Really Did A Number On Me As A Kid, Gave Me A Bowl Cut Trucker Mullet And Bought Me A Pet Goat For My Birthday (His Name Was Flash)
Image source: ppcrack646
#18 When I Was A Kid I Asked My Dad To Take Me To Meet The Love Of My Life And He Did. Thanks, Dad
Image source: doththedoth
#19 Wannabe Borat Lacks Regard For Passenger. I Clearly Had The Best Photo Ideas As A Child
Image source: utrademo
#20 Me With Charlie Tuna – Approx 79 Or 1980
Watch out, or some huge Tuna fish might mug you.
Image source: MisterShipWreck
#21 Me, Rainbow Brite, Popple, Annie, And Rainbow Sprite, 1985
Image source: linzphun
#22 1981-Me On The Rocking Horse My Dad Built For Me
Image source: jlovelysoul
#23 1980 Backyard Birthday Party
This is how birthday parties looked in southern California. Love my cul de sac crew’s fashion.
Image source: Amy_Macadamia
#24 I Recently Visited My Sister Who Shared Her Favorite Childhood Photo Of Me. The Time I Married My Giant Stuffed Pikachu, Ricky
Image source: DisgruntledPlebian
#25 My Childhood Best Friend Was Bubbles From The Powerpuff Girls From Halloween In 2000 And I’m Dying At This Photo I Just Found Of Us. I Was A Barbie Cheerleader
Image source: Complete_Mine5530
#26 Me (Left) And My Brother’s Clique. I Was In Love With The Boy In The Left My Whole Childhood And He Never Knew
Image source: redoctoberr
#27 Getting Serious Helmet-Less Air In The San Fernando Valley Circa Mid-70’s
Image source: ourmanflint1
#28 The Neighborhood, 1993
Image source: yeahletstrythisagain
#29 My Dad And I Eating The Three Bears Porridge In The Mid 80s
Image source: ozcheesehead
#30 2006 Was Not The Prettiest Year Of My Childhood. Or My Brother’s, For Different Reasons
Image source: TobiDaDog
#31 Skating In Grass In An Iguana Tee Tucked Into Jorts With My Pet Goat
Image source: tarplantula431
#32 This Was A Character I Was Workshopping As A Kid
His name was Mr. Grumbles, and yeah, I ended up a theater kid.
Image source: Rob_hocker
#33 Family Camping Trip Circa 2003
Image source: littlebirdaesthetics
#34 I Am About 6 Or 7. I Was Trying To Look Like A Member Of Nsync. I Can’t With Myself (Insert Face Palm)
Image source: cherrypie10
#35 Me, 1985
Image source: REAL-Jesus-Christ
#36 Me, Circa 1994
Image source: Spiritual-Ad-1439
#37 Me And Gramps Lookin Fresh In ‘91
Image source: MrTurtleFerguson
#38 Kids Burger King Birthday Party Early 70s
Image source: kam_08
#39 My Mom And I Circa 1999. We Were At A Family Reunion
Image source: Beached-Peach
#40 My Band With The Neighborhood Kids From 1987
I’m wearing the black shirt. I was inspired by my fave band, The Bangles, and formed a band with my friends from the neighborhood.
Image source: reddit.com
#41 I Demanded This Haircut For Most Of My Childhood
My mom cut my hair when I was a kid, and I always demanded this style. I got called a boy a lot. I’m not. I was around 8 years old, I think. 1987-ish.
Image source: GabbysClay
#42 My Childhood Best Friend And I Wearing Our Coolest Dresses, 1993-1994
Image source: OMGKITTEN
#43 This Photo Of My Siblings And Me At Our Childhood Home Looks Like We Just Mixed The Dopest Farm Songs Of 1990
Image source: tjblang
#44 As I Was Looking Through My Childhood Photography Albums, I Found This Photo Of Myself
Image source: daaniloviici
#45 Me In 1982 Or 1983, Not Much Has Changed
Image source: wompingcrane
#46 That Time In 1985
When Skeletor took over Castle Greyskull with the help of the Galactic Empire. If I could say one thing to 9 year old me, it would be this: Wish you weren’t so awkward, bud.
Image source: Kronos_1976
#47 Early 90’s Me And Mickey
Image source: nicopedia305
#48 Kids Today Are Getting Excited Getting The Switch 2. But Remember When We Got Excited Getting The Super Nintendo
Image source: Redeye007
#49 Me, Halloween 1994
Go go power rangers.
Image source: RETROORDIE
#50 Hairdressers In The 90’s: I Think This Child Needs Thicker Bangs
Image source: larsiepan
#51 Me And My Mom 1977
Image source: ratsrule67
#52 My Birthday Party. Late ‘70s
Image source: mwgrover
#53 Me And My Mum, 1993
Image source: Mcbonewolf
#54 A Photo From My Older Brother’s Dinosaur-Themed Birthday Party In The ‘90s! That Littlefoot Plushie Is Still In The Basement
Image source: Bodhicaryavatara
#55 Is There Anything More 90s Than Young Me And My Twin Brother Getting Snes Games And Dope Walkmans (Walkmen?) For Our Birthday?
Image source: le9chamarmygagXD
#56 One Of My Birthdays In The 90’s
Image source: mattsnacki
#57 I Miss Family Reunions. They Were A Big Deal In The Mid 90s, And Really Fun To Go To As A Kid
Image source: Salem1690s
#58 Late 80s. My Friends And I On Our Ramp
This was taken in the late 80s. We were trying for big air.
Image source: Dogstarman1974
#59 My Mother And Me Are Having Fun On A Desert Picnic In Riyadh, 1989
Image source: stillgotheblues
#60 Birthday Party At McDonalds, Me In My Very Favorite Shirt, Circa 1994 – In Honor Of My 33rd Birthday Tomorrow
Image source: Buttercup-5415
#61 My Dad Dressed Me As A Cowboy For Fishing In The Early 90s
Image source: Lanky-Performer-4557
#62 Photo Of My Dad, A Cylon Centurion, And I From Universal Studios (Circa 1980)
Image source: TSgt_Hist
#63 Baptist Child, With What I’m Fairly Sure Was My Only Friend At The Time, 2001
Image source: sadderbutwisergrl
#64 Me, 1973
Image source: 3dobes
#65 My Grandmother & Me, 1980
Image source: Shimmy-Sham
#66 1985: Me As A Smurf With My Clowning Little Sister
Image source: thepumpkinklng
#67 Christmas Morning 1985, Me Receiving An Atari 2600, The World’s 2nd Most Popular Video Game System
Image source: Jobe111
#68 Me In 1993
Image source: RETROORDIE
#69 1980 Or 1981, Me (Youngest) And My Siblings On The Lawn Of Our New House
Image source: thedaddystuff1979
#70 Me And My Dad 1995
Image source: Alikhaleesi
#71 Found Photo Of Me In The Late 90s On My Birthday. Still Have The Pen
Image source: Applewoood
#72 Dad And I In 1990
I was lucky enough to be awake when he got back from night fishing with some great striped bass.
Image source: Stumbling_Corgi
#73 I Am The Original Nintendo Kid And I Know I Was The Coolest In 1990
Image source: jamesdavidsaul
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