As summer comes to a close and children go back to school, parents are busy snapping pictures of their little ones in new clothes and backpacks and proudly posting them on social media. While it is natural for parents to want to share these moments with friends and family, they should be aware of the potential dangers that come with posting pictures of your children online for the first day of school.
First steps are to familiarize yourself with these internet terms:
Digital Kidnapping
When a predator takes an image of a child from social media and creates a fake profile to lure the child for their own malicious reasons.
Geotagging
The process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media in order to pinpoint the exact location where the photo or video was taken. Geotagging can be as simple as checking a box that automatically includes your location when you post a photo, or manually adding GPS coordinates to the EXIF data of an image.
Children’s Digital Footprint
A child’s digital footprint is the online trail they leave behind as a result of their activity on the internet. It includes everything from the photos they post, to the comments they make, to the websites they visit. As children grow older and spend more time online, their digital footprints become larger and more complex.
Social Networking Sites
A social networking site is an online platform that allows users to connect with friends and family, share information and experiences, and build community. Popular social networking sites include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, and many more. There are actually thousands of social media platforms on the internet.
Dark Web
A portion of the internet called the “dark web” that can only be accessed with specialized software is frequently utilized for criminal behavior. Since search engines do not index the dark web, finding information there might be challenging.
As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the dangers that come with sharing photos of your children on social media. By taking some simple precautions, you can help keep your kids safe from harm.
Facial Recognition Technology
Facial recognition technology is a type of biometric software that can identify individuals by their unique facial features. This technology is often used for security purposes, such as to unlock phones or to gain access to buildings. However, it can also be used for more nefarious purposes, such as identity theft or tracking someone’s movements.
Screen Shots
A screen shot is an image of what is visible on a computer screen. It can be taken manually, by pressing a button or key combination on the keyboard, or it can be taken automatically by software. Screen shots are often used to capture and share information from websites or social media platforms.
The Dangers of Posting Photos of Your Kids on Social Media for Back to School
Here are just a few online safety reasons why you should think twice before sharing photos of your children on social media sites:
Sharing photos of your kids online can give strangers access to their personal information. If you include your child’s name, school, or other identifying details in the caption or post, you are essentially getting your private information into the wrong hands and could be used to track down and harm your child.
Posting pictures of your kids on social media can also put them at risk of being bullied by their peers. If other children see that their photo has been shared online, they may become targets for bullying and harassment.
Additionally, sharing photos of your kids on social media can make it easier for child predators to target them. Predators often use such images on social media to find potential victims, and posting photos of your children makes them easy prey.
If you are going to share pictures of kids on your social media accounts , here’s some tips to keep in mind!
- Check your privacy settings are set to private so they are only showing to your “friends” list or select connections
- Exclude sensitive information – IE – full name, date of birth, place of birth, school name, city, grade, teachers name etc
- Make sure the background of the photos does not include identifiable information like in front of your house, school etc.
- If including other children in your photos, always ask for parent consent to share photos of their children on your social media platforms.
So, next time you’re tempted to post online photos of children on social media, think twice. Your child’s safety and privacy is more important than getting likes or shares.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Share them in the comments below!
Check out these additional Resources:
CBS News – Posting Photos Of Your Children On Social Media? Experts Warn There May Be Consequences
NPR – Do Parents Invade Children’s Privacy When They Post Photos Online?
Check out these additional Local Anchor Resources:
The Effects of Social Media on Tweens and Teens: What Parents Need to Know
Raising Future Leaders: How to Teach Leadership Skills
5 Tips to Dealing With Back to School Anxiety and Stress
