Can I share a photo of my child or of someone else on social media? At what age can my child open an account?
In short
It depends. To share a photo of a recognisable person outside your private circle, you need their permission. A child under 13 needs parental consent to use social media.
Video transcript
You filmed the school show. Other children's faces are visible too, and you want to post it publicly. It depends: Sharing a photo of a recognisable person beyond your private circle needs permission. Under 13s need parental consent for social media. The right way: Ask permission first or blur the faces. If you're separated, get the other parent's consent for your child's photo. Consequences: Fine: Usually none; Person in the photo: Can ask for removal; Also: Complaint and damages.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- From the age of 13, a child can give their own consent for online services such as social media. If they are younger, parental consent is needed.
- Taking a photo and sharing it each require separate permission. To use a photo in which someone can be identified outside a closed private circle, you need their permission (recht op afbeelding / droit à l'image).
- According to the Data Protection Authority (GBA / APD), the key age for photos is 14. For a child under 14, the parents give permission. From 14, the child's own permission is needed as well as the parents'.
- Separated parents continue to share parental authority. A parent must get the other parent's consent before sharing the child's photo, including in closed groups.
- If other people's faces appear in a video of a wedding, a school show or a fight, ask for their permission first or blur their faces.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Usually no fine. The person in the photo can ask for the post to be removed and can complain to the Data Protection Authority (GBA / APD).
Legal basis:GBA – Recht op afbeelding: toestemming
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence. But sharing intimate images without consent is a separate and serious criminal offence.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 136
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The person in the photo can ask the court for compensation
Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.5 (Kamer DOC 55 3213/012) + AVG, art. 82
- It can lead to a dispute between separated parents at the family court
Legal basis:oud BW art. 373
- A photo posted online is easy to copy and can harm the child later in life
Why does this rule exist?
Everyone has a say over their own image. Children cannot protect this themselves, which is why parents are expected to act in the child's best interests.
Where can you go?
- Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
- Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
- School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 9 / 9 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 9 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Belçika'da çevrim içi hizmetler için onay yaşı 13; altında ebeveyn onayı
Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit – Het beginsel van toestemming - Found in an official source
Dayanak: Wet 30 juli 2018 art. 7
Wet 30.07.2018 betreffende de bescherming van natuurlijke personen met betrekking tot de verwerking van persoonsgegevens, art. 7 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Çekmek ve paylaşmak ayrı izin; kapalı özel çevre dışında kullanım izin ister
Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit – Recht op afbeelding - Found in an official source
Görüntü hakkında karar yaşı 14; altında ebeveyn izni
Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit – Het beginsel van toestemming - Found in an official source
Ayrılan ebeveynlerde diğerinin onayı; kapalı çevre dahil
Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit – Het beginsel van toestemming - Found in an official source
Kaldırılmasını isteme / GBA'ya şikâyet
GBA – Recht op afbeelding: toestemming - Found in an official source
Tazminat istenebilir
BW Boek 6, art. 6.5 (Kamer DOC 55 3213/012) + AVG, art. 82 - Found in an official source
Mahrem içeriği rızasız yaymak ayrı suçtur (seviye 3)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 136 - Found in an official source
Ebeveynler anlaşamazsa biri aile mahkemesine başvurabilir
oud BW art. 373
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?