Is Your Back-to-School Photo Putting Your Child at Risk?

As your child heads off to a new school year with their carefully chosen backpack, uniform, and a big smile, it’s only natural to want to capture the moment and share it with friends and family online. However, sharing back-to-school photos on social media can unintentionally expose your child to safety risks if you’re not careful about the information included in the picture.

Here’s what parents and carers need to know about these risks and how to share these cherished moments safely.

Why Back-to-School Photos Can Be Risky

When you share a photo online, you’re not just sharing the image itself—you’re often sharing a wealth of identifying information. For example, many parents like to include details such as:

  • Their child’s full name.
  • The name of the school.
  • The grade they’re entering.
  • The location of the school or nearby landmarks.
  • Specifics about hobbies or activities, like sports teams or clubs.

This information might seem harmless, but in the wrong hands, it can pose significant risks. Predators, scammers, or other malicious individuals could use these details to locate your child or build a profile that could be used for grooming or identity theft. Even something as simple as a school logo on a uniform or a visible house number in the background can provide clues to your child’s location.

The Australian Federal Police have issued a media release calling on parents to exercise caution before posting back-to-school photos of their children online. They urge parents and carers to consider all angles of the image, including background details and any personal identifiers that may unintentionally reveal sensitive information. Photos shared publicly on social media can be accessed, downloaded, and used by offenders to exploit children or create fake identities.

AFP Commander Helen Schneider said before sharing images on social media, it was important to be vigilant about what information they contained and who might have access.

It is an unfortunate reality that innocently posted pictures have been taken, shared and altered by those who have less-than-innocent intentions…

The AFP has seen non-explicit pictures of children and young people become the target of highly sexualised and inappropriate comments or role play, which our investigators define as text-based child abuse material.

Parents need to be aware that once posted online, they may no longer retain control of where their child’s image ends up or how it might be used.

Click on the image above to watch this quick AFP tutorial before you hit send.

Tips for Parents and Carers

Avoid Sharing Identifying Information

Before posting a photo, double-check for details that might reveal too much. Blur or crop out:

  • School logos on uniforms, backpacks, or signs.
  • Name tags or labels.
  • Background details, such as street signs, house numbers, or car license plates.

Use Privacy Settings Wisely

Adjust your social media account’s privacy settings to ensure your posts are visible only to trusted friends and family. On platforms like Facebook, use the “Friends Only” setting, and avoid sharing photos publicly.

Gaining Consent

If another person is taking photos of your child, talk to them about how the photos will be used and how they will be shared.

Avoid Real-Time Posting

Instead of sharing photos as your child heads off to school, wait until later in the day. This prevents anyone from knowing exactly where your child will be at a specific time.

Be Cautious with Location Tags

Many social media platforms allow you to tag the location of your photo. Avoid tagging the school, neighborhood, or any other location that could reveal where your child spends their time.

Share in Private Groups

If you want to share photos with loved ones, consider doing so in private groups or via messaging apps like WhatsApp. This gives you more control over who sees your content.

Educate Older Kids About Online Safety

If your child has their own social media accounts, talk to them about the importance of not oversharing personal information online. Encourage them to use privacy settings and think carefully about the content they post.

For more tips and guidance, visit the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) website and stay informed about how to keep your family safe online. You can also head to our Parents and Carers page for more online safety information and recommended resources.

See Also:

#ToddlerBikini: Parents need to be aware of risks of photo sharing

Keeping Kids Safe Online: Your School Holiday Guide

School girl’s Instagram ‘live’ post becomes sex predator webcam


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  • Renee Chopping
    published this page in News 2025-01-29 19:19:46 +1100

You can defend their right to childhood

A world free of sexploitation is possible!

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