Facebook houses a variety of categorial photos to include cute kittens, adorable puppies, and (arguably the most “aww” inducing) baby photos.  Any new baby picture posted to Facebook will likely trigger a gazillion “likes” from proud relatives to the obscure second cousins (who no one has ever met).  

As more millennials are entering the parenthood years, baby pictures posted to social media are only going to increase given how many millennials have grown up with such platforms as Facebook.  Considering that so many children now will have pictures of them online from likely the day they were born, this begs the question of whether or not, the “baby” years are too young to be shared with the world, and without the person’s consent.  

Laura Cornet thought so.  With so many baby pictures popping up in her Facebook feed, she found it strange to be “involved in the life of someone who doesn’t even know I have already seen everything in their life.”  While it is very understandable that proud parents merely want to share pictures of their children, Cornet felt that the babies themselves might not want that. 

In response to this social dilemma, the Dutch Designer decided to create a way for babies themselves to post to social media, and hence the birth of her soft toys collection, “New Born Frame”.  The collection is comprised of a crib mobile that is equipped with a motion sensing camera.  The camera automatically starts capturing whenever the baby reaches upwards.  A second camera is located on the side of the crib; here, by rolling a ball, the camera will snap pictures and then upload them to social media, paring the captured images with selections from pre-set captions, such as “Taking pictures in the crib! #myfirstselfie.” 

And in case the photos are not enough information for the world, Cornet also designed shoes for the baby, that are fitted with sensors to monitor the baby’s level of physical activity.  Put them on the child, and their latest kicking-workout will be posted to Facebook. 

In a CNN article, Cornet explained that her designs were never meant to be actual products, but rather a social comment expressed through art.  However, after many people expressed their eager to actually buy the products, Cornet decided to redo her prototype to make it a viable product.  Her project has invoked a lot of reaction, both positive and negative.  While there were some eager buyers up front, others accused Cornet of being crazy for exposing babies to social media.  CNN even entitled their article covering Cornet’s design as Cute or Creepy? All this reaction has pleased Cornet, who said that her goal of the initial project was achieved: get people to think about the implications of sharing their baby’s pictures.  

With one of the soft toys in the shape of the Facebook logo, Cornet is blatantly pointing out that every child born in this day and age will know Facebook.  Even though Cornet herself is unsure whether or not she would want her baby to use the device, it is very likely that as “New Born Frame” picks up more attention, “baby selfies” will become fair game for Facebook’s feed.  

 

Read more at PSFK.com