Anon Practice photos/videos and consent

[Anonymous (1300)]

Our gym has a consent form for coaches to post photos of your gymnast from practice, in drills, at meets, etc.

However, it also has a comfortable and large parent viewing area. And no policy about parents posting photos and videos.

This never really mattered because our gym was small and low key, but now our gym started to bring in very young girls from other gyms who are chasing elite and have a big instagram presence, leotard “sponsors”, etc. Almost daily my Instagram feed will deliver a video of one of these gymnasts with my own child very prominently visible in the same area doing her workout. It’s especially frustrating because while the videos are relatively “safe” from the perspective of the featured girl, other girls are in more vulnerable positions like doing leg lifts, straddles, etc and the moms seem to have zero sense about anyone in the frame who isn’t their kid.

What would you do in this situation? For what it’s worth, my child is at a lower level than these girls and is older than them, so we are considered less important in the gym and lower in its hierarchy.

Have you had this

 

[Anonymous (f2cc)]

Talk to the owner of the gym. This happened at our gym, didn’t impact my kid bc the insta gymmie was much younger, but I think some of the parents of girls in her training group complained. The owner sent out a sternly worded email saying that the gym strongly discourages filming practice every day, but if a parent chooses to do so they can only post videos of their own kid and must make sure other kids aren’t in the background. I believe that helped.

 

[Anonymous (1300)]

Talk to the owner of the gym. This happened at our gym, didn’t impact my kid bc the insta gymmie was much younger, but I think some of the parents of girls in her training group complained. The owner sent out a sternly worded email saying that the gym strongly discourages filming practice every day, but if a parent chooses to do so they can only post videos of their own kid and must make sure other kids aren’t in the background. I believe that helped.

Thanks. The owner + head coach is actively reposting these videos, so I think as I realize that while actively writing this, I’m answering my own question of what can be done. This might not be a good long-term cultural fit for us.

 

[Anonymous (f2cc)]

Thanks. The owner + head coach is actively reposting these videos, so I think as I realize that while actively writing this, I’m answering my own question of what can be done. This might not be a good long-term cultural fit for us.

Ah, yeah that’s a problem. Might be good to check out some other gyms.

 

[Anonymous (04f5)]

Thanks. The owner + head coach is actively reposting these videos, so I think as I realize that while actively writing this, I’m answering my own question of what can be done. This might not be a good long-term cultural fit for us.

Does the consent form allow you to say that you don't give consent?

 

[Anonymous (4f77)]

I think it’s worth voicing your concerns with the owner. I think there might be a legal leg to stand on in certain states, but not in others.

I also wonder if these are gym-fluencers, using video footage with your daughter to make money, then you might have an argument there also around commercial use.

Anyway. Here’s a letter I had ChatGPT generate quickly.

Hi [Owner’s Name],

I wanted to bring something up that’s been bothering me. I’ve noticed some parents filming during class and posting those videos online. While I know everyone’s proud of their kids, I’m uncomfortable with it—especially because my daughter sometimes ends up in the background, and the angles or positions can feel a little compromising for her privacy.

I completely understand that it’s not intentional, but I’d really appreciate it if we could have a clearer policy around filming during classes, or at least get consent from all parents before anything gets posted publicly. I just want to protect my daughter’s privacy and comfort, and I imagine other parents might feel the same way.

Thanks for understanding—I really appreciate you taking this seriously.

Best,

[Your Name]

 

[Madden3]

How is this any different than the gym allowing any rando off the street to come in and take video of the kids and post it? Many "child influencer" social media accounts are followed by adult men and it ain't because they appreciate talent. I pity the parent that posts videos online where my child can be seen working out in a leotard, or the gym that allows it.

 

[Anonymous (1300)]

How is this any different than the gym allowing any rando off the street to come in and take video of the kids and post it? Many "child influencer" social media accounts are followed by adult men and it ain't because they appreciate talent. I pity the parent that posts videos online where my child can be seen working out in a leotard, or the gym that allows it.

I sent out some quiet feelers tonight. Another mom of a girl in my daughter’s workout group has apparently already said something. The owner said that the attention the gym gets from these accounts is a positive thing for the gym and increases recruiting opportunities and opportunities to attract more elites, and that we should be grateful for the positive attention that our gym gets. He was indifferent to concerns about girls in the background.

Emailing another gym we have connections to for a trial. I understand they have openings so maybe it’s time to zoom out and really think things through.

 

[Anonymous (a95f)]

This is all about consent, and I'd be very, very worried about the wider safeguarding policies of any gym that doesn't at least acknowledge the potential issues around pics of leotard-clad children being posted online without their parents' permission or knowledge. If the owner thinks its a small price to pay for boosting numbers then... well it's time to find a new gym.

 

[Anonymous (f2cc)]

It’s a disturbing way to try and attract new members.

 

[Anonymous (ef9b)]

We have strict photography/video policies and I have to be careful taking video to send to parents that no other child is in the background - mirrors add an extra challenge.

Curious what the numbers are? 30 adult men for every elite hopeful viewing these posts?

I am sure these kids are having private lessons/daytime training- so they should video at those times and not when the gym is busy.

 

[Anonymous (689e)]

Thank you for bringing more awareness to this issue! I have been diaapointed to see how quickly people are to post other children on public social media accounts.

 

[Anonymous (1300)]

Thank you for bringing more awareness to this issue! I have been diaapointed to see how quickly people are to post other children on public social media accounts.

My update: my daughter did a trial at another gym late last week and this last weekend and will start practice there this week. What stood out to me is that there were zero parents videoing during practice and very few parents who stayed for any part of practices. There are a lot of other positives about this new gym and I think it all stems from a very different gym culture.

I’m relieved to not have to think about the issue in the same way. But of course the day my daughter did her first trial, what popped up in my Instagram feed? A mom’s video of her daughter with mine standing clearly in the frame the entire time! It feels creepy to have my own child’s face and body in the control of someone else’s public Instagram account.

I did have my friend report it from her account but I’m not naive enough to expect Instagram to do anything.

 

[Anonymous (4543)]

I sent out some quiet feelers tonight. Another mom of a girl in my daughter’s workout group has apparently already said something. The owner said that the attention the gym gets from these accounts is a positive thing for the gym and increases recruiting opportunities and opportunities to attract more elites, and that we should be grateful for the positive attention that our gym gets. He was indifferent to concerns about girls in the background.

Emailing another gym we have connections to for a trial. I understand they have openings so maybe it’s time to zoom out and really think things through.

For now, try to report any posts with your daughter in. YOU didn't give permission to that parent to post. FB and Insta should be willing to deal with it (one video at a time).

 

[Anonymous (71a7)]

My update: my daughter did a trial at another gym late last week and this last weekend and will start practice there this week. What stood out to me is that there were zero parents videoing during practice and very few parents who stayed for any part of practices. There are a lot of other positives about this new gym and I think it all stems from a very different gym culture.

I’m relieved to not have to think about the issue in the same way. But of course the day my daughter did her first trial, what popped up in my Instagram feed? A mom’s video of her daughter with mine standing clearly in the frame the entire time! It feels creepy to have my own child’s face and body in the control of someone else’s public Instagram account.

I did have my friend report it from her account but I’m not naive enough to expect Instagram to do anything.

Was this video that popped up from old gym or new?

 

[Anonymous (1300)]

Was this video that popped up from old gym or new?

Old gym. Probably was taken a couple of weeks before we made the switch. It’s typical because parents seem to plan what they’re going to post ahead of time so stuff is not really posted in real-time.

New gym families are very quiet on social media, and that includes some nationally known gymnasts. We’re happy to have made the switch.