September is here, which means millions of children will be starting school in the next few days – some for the first time.
But if you were planning on posting a photo online of your child in their new school uniform, you might want to think again.
Researchers at the University of Southampton warn of the dangers of ‘sharenting’ – parents posting photos or videos of their kids on social media.
Whether on Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter), sharenting creates a digital profile of the child without their consent – potentially viewable to online criminals.
The detailed profile typically consists of the child’s personal data such as full name, address, date of birth, hobbies, interests and more.
And it can lead to cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, privacy breaches, contact by a stranger and more, the experts warn.
‘Sharenting can seem like a useful way to celebrate special occasions and update family members around the world on children’s progress,’ said Dr Anita Lavorgna, assistant professor in criminology at the University of Southampton.
‘But parents should be mindful of the risks of sharing personal details such as their children’s name and location, or sensitive information like their children’s health condition.
September is here, which means millions of children will be starting school in the next few days – some for the first time. But if you were planning on posting a photo online of your child in their new school uniform, you might want to think again (file photo)
Researchers warn of the dangers of ‘sharenting’ – parents posting photos or videos of their kids on social media. This Instagram snap posted by David Furnish showed his sons at the start of the school year in 2017 – although, perhaps wisely, the boys faced away from the camera
When you post a photo of your child in their school uniform on an online platform, you potentially reveal ‘clues’ to online criminals, whether they’re scammers, hackers, stalkers, cyberbullies or paedophiles.
Your child’s school may be disclosed by the badge on their jumper, while your home address might even be revealed depending on where the photo is taken.
Typically, back-to-school photos are taken on the front porch – but such a snap can reveal house number and characteristics about your street.
What’s more, a written caption accompanying the picture can reveal further details, such as his or her first and second name, age and school start date.
Worryingly, even if you have your social accounts set to private, your photos may be seen by people you don’t know or trust, the research found.
On Facebook for example, even if your profile is set to ‘private’ and posts only visible to ‘friends’, if anyone is tagged then their friends can see, copy and reshare the post.
As part of their research, University of Southampton experts surveyed more than 1,000 UK parents and found that 45 per cent actively ‘sharent’.
One in six reported that their child had experienced at least one of the following digital harms – cybercrimes, cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, identity fraud, privacy breaches, and contact by a stranger.
When you post a photo of your child in their school uniform on an online platform, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram or X, you potentially reveal ‘clues’ to online criminals (file photo)
Dangers of sharenting can apply to any kind of photo of a child – not just them in their school uniform. For example, a post on their birthday blowing out the candles on a cake can reveal their date of birth – information that cyber criminals use to circumvent online security checks. Pictured, Jools Oliver, wife of Jamie, posts an Instagram snap of her daughter Poppy
But the dangers of sharenting can apply to any kind of photo of a child – not just them in their school uniform.
For example, a post on their birthday blowing out the candles on a cake can reveal their date of birth – information that cyber criminals use to circumvent online security checks.
Name, address and date of birth can be all a fraudster needs to steal a child’s identity, and are commonly found from a quick glance at a couple of posts on Facebook.
Parents might even share their child’s smartphone number in a comment on a Facebook or Instagram post, but it could end up in the wrong hands.
Strangers contacting children online may also target them offline – perhaps by sending a text message, or posting a letter if they know the address.
To make things more problematic, whether or not children can give their consent to having their information posted online is also a grey area.
Back in 2019, Gwyneth Paltrow landed herself in hot water with her daughter after she posted a Instagram snap of them without her permission.
Other celebs who have ‘sharented’ include the Beckhams, Jamie Oliver, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Wayne and Frankie Bridge, Paddy and Christine McGuinness, and David Furnish and Elton John.
Back in 2019, Gwyneth Paltrow landed herself in hot water with her daughter after she posted a Instagram snap of them – without her permission
Celebs known for sharenting include the Beckhams, Jamie Oliver, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Terry and David Furish, husband of Elton John
Experts also warn that a photo of a child can be digitally manipulated by criminals using AI-powered computer programmes and end up on the dark web.
‘Sharing photos or videos of children at scale across the online world can put their safety, privacy and wellbeing at risk,’ said Rani Govender, policy manager for child online safety at children’s charity NSPCC, in response to the new research.
‘This includes the risk of abusers stealing and adapting these images and sharing them within networks of offenders.’
To combat the issue, parents should remember the importance of ‘pausing before posting’ – even if they’re social accounts are set to private.
‘We encourage parents to consider the long-term implications, engage with their children about what’s being shared, and ask permission where appropriate,’ said Ms Govender.
‘Everyone has a role to play in ensuring that children have safe and healthy experiences online.’
