First-Day-of-School Photos...
Insights into the dangers of oversharing your child's personal info on social media
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An Innocent Post
A single post can open the door to a world of risk.
August 15, 2024. Miami-Dade County, Florida. A mom spent the early morning at the gym and the local grocery store. After wrapping up her online work tasks for the day around noon, she posted a photo of her son standing in their driveway earlier that day, all smiles for his first day of the new school year. The background of the photo contained their house number, and the post was geo-tagged in Hialeah, Florida.
September 4, 2024. Oneida County, New York. A mom spent the morning running errands, dropping off dry cleaning, and squeezing in a quick stop at the public library. After lunch, she caught up on some product reviews for an ecommerce side gig before heading to the gym. By late afternoon, when her daughter got home from her after-school program, she was eager to post a proud first-day-of-kindergarten photo on her social media platforms. The photo contained her daughter’s full name, teacher’s name, school bus number, favorite color, height, weight, and future goals.
Sharing first-day-of-school photos has become a widely embraced tradition. Parents enjoy capturing these moments and proudly sharing them with friends and family. However, what seems like a harmless gesture can lead to significant risks if personal information is overshared.
Posting first-day-of-school photos often includes more than just a snapshot of a happy child. Many parents inadvertently share personal details like their child’s full name, school name, teacher’s name, and even home address through details in the background of the photo, captions, or the metadata of the image itself. For example, some parents add chalkboard signs with their child’s personal information, like favorite hobbies, future aspirations, or school bus numbers.
While it might seem innocent, oversharing this kind of information opens the door to various risks, including identity theft, online predators, and even “digital kidnapping”—an insidious form of impersonation where individuals steal children’s photos and present them as their own online. Furthermore, predators may use the posted details to build trust with children or target them based on their school or routine, thereby increasing their vulnerability.
The Risks of Oversharing
When parents post first-day-of-school photos that reveal personal details, it opens the door for scammers to target families with convincing schemes. Scammers can use this information to send fake emails or text messages that appear legitimate.
For example, a scammer might pretend to be your child’s teacher or school official and send an email requesting additional personal details, such as your child’s Social Security number, under the pretense of completing school records. These types of scams are designed to trick parents into handing over sensitive information, which can then be used to steal identities or commit fraud.
In some cases, these scams can lead to serious financial consequences, as identity theft can result in loans or credit cards being taken out in a child’s name, which may not be discovered for years.
Even if a photo seems harmless, sharing images of children online can lead to exploitation. Predators or cybercriminals may use photos in ways that go beyond the parents’ control. One of the more alarming trends is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to alter photos of children for malicious purposes. In some cases, bad actors have used AI to manipulate these images, either to create inappropriate content or to bully children.
This can have a severe emotional and psychological impact on children and their families. Once an image is posted online, it is difficult to track or control how it is used, making it important for parents to think carefully about what they share.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), financial losses related to online crimes targeting children have skyrocketed. In 2022, these losses were estimated at $500,000, but by 2023, they had more than tripled, reaching over $2 million.
While the internet is a useful tool for sharing memories, the risks of oversharing are real. It is important for parents to understand that by posting too much information, they may unintentionally put their children in harm’s way, making them targets for predators and cybercriminals.
Worst-Case Scenarios
Posting first-day-of-school photos that show your child’s school, bus stop, or even home address can provide predators with critical pieces of information. For instance, a photo showing a school’s name or a bus number gives someone who may be monitoring online posts the ability to locate and target your child. With this information, bad actors can easily figure out your child’s daily routine, which could increase the risk of kidnapping.
In addition to the physical risks, sharing personal details such as your child’s teacher’s name, school, or favorite activities can open the door for manipulation. Scammers can use this information to pose as trusted figures, like a teacher or school administrator. They might send parents fraudulent emails requesting sensitive information, such as a child’s Social Security number, under the guise of completing school records. With enough details gathered from social media, these scams can be highly convincing.
Even beyond these more obvious dangers, oversharing photos online can lead to identity theft or “digital kidnapping,” where someone steals your child’s images and pretends they are their own online. This can lead to emotional distress, especially if images are manipulated using AI for bullying or worse, such as inappropriate content.
The best way to protect your child is by limiting the personal information you share in social media posts. Avoid showing identifiable details like home addresses, street signs, school names, or other specific locations, and consider making posts private or not sharing them publicly at all. Even innocent-looking photos can carry hidden risks.
How to Post Safely (or Not at All)
One of the most important steps to protect your child online is to avoid posting personal details that can be used to pinpoint their location. This includes:
Home Addresses: A photo in front of your house/apartment that includes your house number or even recognizable landmarks in your neighborhood can give someone enough information to find where you live.
School Names: Mentioning or showing the name of your child’s school can put them at risk, as predators or scammers can track their routines.
Exact Locations and Times: Avoid posting anything that reveals where your child will be at a specific time, like bus numbers, class schedules, or after-school activities. Even something as simple as the name of their soccer team can give away too much.
Before posting any photos of your child, check your social media privacy settings. Many platforms allow you to control who can see your posts. Here is how to stay safe:
Limit Visibility: Make sure that only close friends and family can view your posts about your child. Avoid making these posts public, as that opens them up to strangers and potential criminals.
Regularly Update Settings: Social media platforms often change their privacy policies, so it is important to check and update your settings regularly to make sure your posts stay private.
Many social media platforms and photo apps use facial recognition technology. Once a photo of your child is posted online, it can be scanned and used by companies or even malicious actors. To minimize this risk:
Avoid Posting Your Child’s Face: If you want to share a first-day photo, consider taking pictures that don’t show their face directly. Instead, you can focus on their backpack, shoes, or other details that capture the moment without revealing their identity.
Beware of Tagged Photos: Even if you don’t post a photo of your child, others might. Be mindful of relatives or friends tagging your child in posts. Always ask for consent before sharing images of other children online.
Over time, seemingly harmless posts can reveal a lot about your child’s daily life and preferences. Criminals can gather this information to build a profile of your child’s routines, which can lead to identity theft or even physical danger. To prevent this:
Avoid Sharing Specific Interests: While it might seem fun to share your child’s favorite toys, shows, or hobbies, these details can be used to manipulate them or impersonate someone they trust.
Limit Posts About Daily Activities: Regularly posting about your child’s schedule, like when they go to the park or what time they get home from school, makes it easier for bad actors to predict their movements.
Conclusion
As parents, it is natural to want to share special moments like your child’s first day of school. However, with the increasing risks posed by oversharing on social media, it is crucial to think carefully about what information you post online. Scammers and predators can exploit even the smallest details—school name, teacher’s name, or daily routines—to commit identity theft, scams, fraud, or worse. Once personal images and information are online, they can be copied, manipulated, or used in malicious ways, such as creating AI-altered images for cyberbullying or sexual exploitation.
By practicing digital caution—such as not posting identifying details, turning off location services, and limiting who can view your posts—you can help protect your child’s privacy and security. What seems like a harmless photo today could lead to real-life consequences in the future, from identity theft to even child abduction.
In a world where cybercrimes targeting children are on the rise, the best way to safeguard their futures is to be mindful of what you share. Always prioritize their privacy over likes and comments online.