Despite going on to announce the birth of their son in August 2024, the Bieber family has decided not to share snaps of the youngster’s face online – in a bid to protect his privacy.
But the A-lister does frequently share faceless shots of his son, and some fans have called into question the appropriateness of one particular photo, which now has nearly three million likes.
In the seemingly-sweet father-son photo, the 31-year-old could be seen sporting a hot pink hoodie with a pair of baggy jeans.
But it was with the jeans that caught users’ attention.
“Bieber, you forgot to button your pants,” one wrote.
Another penned: “So the person who took this pic couldn’t zip his fly up?”
Others suggested that the detail was inappropriate, given the context of the snap.
One said: “Honestly button your pants and act and conduct yourself like a father.
“You are setting an example for him everyday.”
Another added: “Why are his pants open? That’s just weird to do on purpose.”
Others, however, have expressed their strong disagreement, writing: “Y’all are so weird in these comments. There’s nothing wrong with this.”
Another wrote: “Oh my gosh, are you serious? Do you know how many guys walk around with their pants unzipped? Half the time I don’t even realize it.”
“Stop reading into this. Y’all make anything out of nothing,” a third commented.
Many parents post photos of their children online to share special moments with friends and family, celebrate milestones, and to look back on in the future. This is known as ‘sharenting.’
In fact, a 2015 survey found that 74% of parents using social media knew another parent engaged in ‘sharenting’ behavior and, according to The Guardian, on average, by the time a child is aged 13, parents have posted 1,300 photos and videos of them to social media.
Although this is often done entirely innocently, sharing innocuous photos of children can be harmful.
Psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD, told the Cleveland Clinic that parents should pause before posting and ask: Why am I sharing this? Who is it for? Has my child consented? And could someone misuse this content to harm them?
While posting a sweet photo of your child may seem hamless, Albers notes: “Sharenting opens a window directly into a child’s life, which predators or those with ill intent can abuse.”
Putting your child’s life online can unwittingly enable identity theft, harassment, bullying, exploitation and even violence and it’s important to know how to protect your children online.