US Police Warn Parents as Back-to-School Photos Expose Children to Online Safety Risks
Police departments across the United States are urging parents to be careful when posting photos of their first day of school online because seemingly innocent photos can contain information that could place children in danger.
The alert is issued as families get ready for school and maintain a popular custom of taking pictures of children with signs or chalkboards that include information about their first day.
Authorities state these photos can inadvertently reveal information that a stranger might use to find, identify or mislead a child from a child protection point of view. Information like a child’s full name, school, teacher, age, birthday and interests can be helpful clues about their daily routine and location.
The San Antonio Police Department said that personal details provided in such photos may be used by strangers to trick children. Officers urged parents not to post identifying information and recommended that they use general language like “first day of school” instead of a child’s grade.
Police also advised parents to check the history of photos before uploading them. Photos of school buildings, home addresses, street signs or other identifiable places may indicate where a child lives or goes.
The Sterlington Police Department in Louisiana also advised parents to keep the backgrounds of their photos simple and without identifying details.
The warnings remind us of the need for digital safeguarding as children are increasingly having parts of their lives recorded and shared by adults online.
Parents can minimize risks by reviewing photos carefully before posting, and by limiting identifying information and reviewing privacy settings on social media accounts.
Child protection experts have increasingly stressed that safeguarding children’s privacy online is a component of keeping children safe offline, especially from strangers who might use information that is publicly available.
