Back-to-School Photo Safety Tips
Photo by Deleece Cook on Unsplash
The kids are almost back in school, so Facebook will soon be filled with cute back-to-school photos. Despite the fact that these posts are well-intended and can be treasured as keepsakes, many parents are unaware of the potential dangers of posting them online. Child predators can use the Internet to find clues about children, their likes and physical locations to groom them.
Before you post your child’s back-to-school photo online, take a moment to review the photo. Be aware of what you share and who has access to information about your child. These tips will help keep your child safe from online predators.
Tips for Taking Back-to-School Photos
Don’t Share Your Child’s School Name
A simple Google search of your child’s school name provides your child's specific time and location. This is an excellent photograph for your own memories, but it is not one you should share publicly.
Don’t Share Your Home Address
Avoid taking photos near your home address or street signs. Make sure your apartment or house number isn’t visible in the photo before sharing online.
Don’t Share Your Child’s Teacher
Most schools have staff directories, making finding where your child goes to school easier. Protect your child's and teacher's privacy by avoiding sharing specific teacher information. Keep your child safe by keeping specific information about their school private.
Don’t Show Your Child’s Bus Number
You are sharing your child's exact route, time, and location with the world by including a school bus number in your photos. Remove or blur the number if you want to post a photo of your child getting on the bus.
Make Sure School Logos are Covered
Make sure all uniform logos are concealed, these can be easily blurred on your smartphone. Thoroughly check your background to make sure you aren’t accidentally snapping location identifiers, logos, or other children who may not consent to be posted online.
Adjust Your Privacy Settings
Parents should customize the settings of their online accounts to ensure their posts are shared only with the audiences they wish to see them. It is also important for parents to create strong and unique passwords for their online accounts that do not include any personal information that third parties could access.
Back-to-School is an exciting time for parents and children, so take loads of photos, but be mindful of what you post online. Pause before your post. Whenever you share photos of minors online, take a moment to review the image for any possible risks. It is also a good idea to make sure your child is OK with you sharing their photo online, especially as children get older.
About Jessica Lieb
Jessica Lieb is the founder and editor of B Honest Media, a site that guides parents to entertainment, technology, parenting, and more. She enjoys helping parents navigate parenting in a digital world. Her goal is to guide and equip confident digital parents.