We parents love to show off our children, whether it’s through a physical photo, on our phone, or most commonly, shared on the Internet via social media like Facebook and Instagram. It’s just part and parcel of being a parent to be proud of how clever and adorable we think they are, and sometimes the urge to share is pretty irresistible.
Yet, our innocent posts might just be the very reason some not-so-innocent activities occur. Predators abound on the Internet because of the anonymity it offers. And most of their time, their victims are only a click away.
However it is not the point of this article to suggest that you should never post pictures of your child on the Internet. We should just be sensible about it. So besides taking some basic precautions like setting your accounts to ‘private’, here are some other ways to limit your child’s exposure on the Internet:
Don’t indicate location when posting photos
Of course it’s fine to check in while on holiday or at a special location like theme parks or birthday events. This rule is applicable to places where your children can regularly be found, like school, gym, ballet class or your own home! Someone could use the information to track your child’s whereabouts.
Do delete any images that reveal your child’s official information
Yup, their passport photo is really cute, but it is really not a great idea to post pictures of their new passport, visa or identification cards online. In the case of a child, their official name or ID number can easily be used to reveal where they live or study.
Don’t upload photographs of your children next to a car
Again, license plates are an “official” number and can be used to reveal where you and your child live or stay. Posting these photos can offer potential criminals information about a valuable possession (your car) and it can be also linked back to your child.
Do only post photos of your children fully dressed
Yes they look really really cute half dressed and of course intentions are purely innocent for you and your family. But it is really not hard to imagine how disturbed individuals may see these sweet photos in a completely different way.
What are your thoughts on overexposure in social media? Comment them down below!