A California mom is sparking conversation on TikTok after sharing what she described as a parenting “ick” involving her child’s father and social media.
In a video, Alma, known as @mona_aaa7, explained that she shared a photo of her son with his grandmother, who then forwarded it to the child’s father. Later that day, when she picked her son up from school, the child noticed that his dad had posted the photo on Instagram and tagged him.
“That’s not the ick,” the mom said in the video. She explained that the issue arose when she asked her son whether his father had texted or called to congratulate him on a school achievement. According to the mom, he had not.
“If you have the time to post and share with all your peeps, you should have time to text my son and congratulate my son,” she said.
The video quickly drew responses from viewers who said the situation felt familiar. Several commenters referred to the father as an “internet dad,” a term commonly used to describe parents who appear engaged online but are less present in private interactions.
“Don’t you love when a dad just wants to be a dad online,” one commenter wrote.
Others focused on boundaries surrounding family photos and social media sharing. “I’d watermark every pic to granny,” another commenter suggested, a sentiment repeated throughout the comments section.
Some viewers shared their own experiences with co-parenting and social media, while others emphasized the difference between public recognition and personal support. One commenter wrote that posting online does not replace a direct message, while another added that the post appeared intended to make it “look like he was there.”
Alma clarified that she was not upset about the photo being shared but said meaningful involvement should extend beyond social media. Her video has since become part of a broader conversation about performative parenting, co-parenting boundaries and what showing up for a child looks like in an online age.
