A recent Time Magazine cover featured a mom breastfeeding her three-year-old. While this subject alone can spark a lot of controversy, there is a second conversation happening on this cover. This secondary conversation is about whether or not this mother should have exposed her child to the world in a potentially embarrassing situation. The mom does defend her actions, but it is hard to believe that she had considered all of the consequences of exposing her child to the media.
One of the major problems with this type of media exposure is that her child is on the verge of attending school. It isn’t hard to see how this photo could potentially harm his school career. At first, it will be the other parents discussing the photo. Eventually, it will be the other kids and teasing. Even though schools are trying to tamp down on bullying, this is just fuel for that particular fire.
Because it is on the internet, it is there forever. Nothing on the internet is truly erased. Even years down the line, this cover could haunt him. While there is no telling what the future effect of this picture is, it will still be out there for viewers — whether he wants people to see it or decides it is far too embarrassing to show his future friends. It is also hard to predict the effect it will have on his future employment since employers are becoming far more nosy about their employees’ personal lives.
Aside from all of this, this child is now becoming the poster child for a discussion that he will forever be connected with. Even though he will eventually develop his own views on children and nurture, he will still be haunted by his mother’s choice. It will be impossible to disconnect himself even as he grows up. His privacy has been practically given away by his mom.
While you may have your own views on breastfeeding, the bigger problem with this picture is the media exposure for the boy. This picture will be around for quite awhile and the effects of this type of exposure are going to last far longer.