Divorce can be challenging for everyone involved, especially when children are caught in the middle. While many separated parents work hard to create healthy co-parenting relationships, things can become complicated when new partners enter the picture and personal boundaries begin to disappear.

One mother recently shared an experience that completely changed how she viewed her ex-husband’s new relationship.

Emma’s Story

Hello,

My ex-husband and I finalized our divorce about two years ago. Together, we have two wonderful children, and despite our differences, I’ve always tried to keep things respectful for their sake.

Not long ago, he introduced me to his new girlfriend. She seemed friendly, polite, and genuinely interested in building a positive relationship with the children. I wanted everyone to get along, so I welcomed her with an open mind.

At first, everything appeared normal.

Then I noticed she had posted a picture of my children at the park on her social media account.

It made me uncomfortable, but I chose not to say anything. I assumed she probably didn’t realize I’d prefer my children not to appear online, and I didn’t want to create unnecessary conflict over what I hoped was an innocent mistake.

A few days later, however, she shared even more.

This time, she uploaded photos and videos from my daughter’s school performance—including a video of her singing on stage.

That’s when my concern turned into something much deeper.

It no longer felt like she was simply sharing happy moments.

It felt as though she was treating my children’s lives as her own online content.

I politely contacted her and explained that I wasn’t comfortable with my children’s photos and videos being posted publicly. Rather than respecting my request, she brushed it off, saying it was “just harmless fun.”

Her response left me feeling completely ignored.

Things escalated even further when she tagged my children in a humorous social media post that made them the joke.

My kids laughed because they didn’t understand why it bothered me.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that strangers were being invited to laugh at moments involving my children.

I reached out to my ex, hoping he’d understand.

Instead, he simply replied, “She’s part of their lives now. You’ll have to get used to it.”

At that moment, I realized I wasn’t going to receive any support from him.

Feeling frustrated, I decided to look more closely at her Instagram page.

The farther I scrolled, the more disturbed I became.

There were countless photos of my children, videos from family outings, stories describing their personalities, and detailed posts about their everyday lives.

Then I discovered something that truly shocked me.

She wasn’t simply posting family memories.

She had built an entire blog centered around “modern parenting,” regularly featuring my son and daughter as if they were part of her own parenting journey.

She wrote advice for other parents while using photos and stories about children who weren’t even hers.

But the biggest surprise came next.

The blog contained advertisements, affiliate links, and sponsored partnerships.

She appeared to be earning income from a platform that relied, at least in part, on images and stories involving my children.

No one had ever asked for my permission.

I immediately confronted my ex with everything I’d found.

He claimed he had no idea the blog was generating money and promised he’d speak with her.

But after defending every other post she’d shared about our children, I found it difficult to believe he was completely unaware.

Now I feel angry, hurt, and deeply concerned.

I have no idea how much information about my children’s lives is already available online or who has seen it.

I’m wondering whether I should confront her again, seek legal advice, or stop expecting them to respect my wishes and take stronger steps to protect my children’s privacy.

What would you do?

— Emma

Editorial Response

Dear Emma,

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Your concerns are understandable, and you’re not overreacting.

This situation isn’t simply about social media disagreements—it’s about your children’s privacy, digital footprint, and ensuring their images and personal lives aren’t shared without appropriate consent.

Your first priority should be preserving evidence. Save screenshots of every post, video, blog article, advertisement, sponsored collaboration, affiliate link, and anything else showing your children being featured online. If content is later removed, those records could become important.

Next, clearly communicate your boundaries in writing to both your ex-husband and his partner. Calmly explain that you do not consent to your children’s images, videos, or personal information being shared publicly or used in blogs, promotional material, or commercial content.

If those requests continue to be ignored, consulting a family law attorney may be appropriate. Laws regarding children’s privacy, image rights, and online commercial use vary by location, but a legal professional can explain your options and whether your custody agreement can be updated to address social media use.

Most importantly, keep the focus on what matters most: protecting your children’s privacy, dignity, and long-term well-being.

This isn’t about resentment toward a new relationship.

It’s about ensuring your children aren’t treated as online content without thoughtful consideration of the lasting impact such exposure may have.