The Risks of Posting Photos of Your Children on Social Media

From the University Social Responsibility and Sustainability Committee we share with you some reflections that will invite you to exercise awareness on this topic.

It’s not a secret to anyone. Social media is an integral part of many people’s lives, including children. Parents, for their part, often share photos of their children on these digital media as a way to stay in touch with friends and family, with whom they share their special moments, although these are sometimes nuanced and somewhat removed from reality. . Here’s an important question: Is it really safe to post photos of your young children on social media?
Photos of children can be viewed by people with other malicious intentions, who can use the online images to identify minors and approach them. In some cases, they may even use the photos to create illegal content.
On the other hand, cybercriminals can use your children’s photos to create fake accounts and commit fraud. For example, they can use the content that was posted to activate a fake account posing as the child. They might then contact the child’s friends and family and ask for money or personal information.
Another risk is that children may suffer from bullying or ciberbullying. This is possible? Of course, some social networks are characterized by being hotbeds of harassment. Now, imagine that bullies post photos of children online without their consent. In addition to being humiliating and embarrassing for the child, this can lead to problems of emotional instability. On the other hand, a photo out of context could make children more vulnerable to bullying at school or social rejection.
Keep in mind that photos, like everything you post, can be permanent. Once a photo is online it’s difficult to completely remove it, which means your young children’s photos could be seen by people you don’t know, even years after they were posted.

Recommendations:

It is important to be aware of the possible risks of publishing any photo of your children on social networks. Before doing so, think about possible risks such as exposure to inappropriate content, identity theft, or harassment.
Preferably, do not post photos that show your children’s location, full name, date of birth or any other sensitive personal information. Avoid posting images that are explicit or could be considered inappropriate for a general audience.
Also, set the privacy of your posts so that only people you know can see them. It is also very important that you talk to your children and explain the risks of posting photos online, and don’t forget to ask their consent before posting any photos of them.
Teach them how to navigate the Internet safely and help them develop critical thinking skills so they can identify and avoid harmful content. In addition to this, monitor their online activity, which does not mean that you should spy on them, although you should be aware of what they do and who they interact with.
Using parental controls is a great tool and can help you block inappropriate content and limit the time your children spend online. Finally, if you or your children see something that concerns you online, report it to the platform or authorities.
The online world is so vast that the best way to navigate is to do so safely.
Our Anáhuac Mexico University has the University Social Responsibility and Sustainability Committee who since 2011 has been working on the design and implementation of actions related to social responsibility from a university setting.