A Guide to Responsible Sharing of Your Kids' Photos – Tips for Parents/Caregivers

We’ve proudly partnered with Safe on Social this year and asked Founder & CEO, Kirra Pendergast, to share some tips on a topic that she is seeing a lot of conversation about right now: sharing photos of your children online.

We're all familiar with the overwhelming urge to share photos of those heart-melting or proud moments of our children online. But wait a minute! Before you rush to hit that "post" button, let's pause and have a real talk about the social media risks that often slip our minds.

Consider their cybersecurity
Daily we come across social media posts showcasing children's milestones, such as a heartfelt message celebrating their birthday, a proud announcement about their accomplishments, or snapshots of them participating in various activities. While seemingly innocent, these posts and tags can inadvertently expose your children to potential cyber threats.

Communicate and Establish Family Rules
Talk with the other adults in your child’s life to ensure you are all on the same page regarding sharing photos of your children online. Never use photos of your children in profile photos, ESPECIALLY on dating apps. Establish family rules to impart values of thoughtfulness, caution, respect, and kindness both online and offline.

Explore your motivations
It's worth considering whether ego validation plays a role. Are you sharing the photo of your child for "likes"? Instead, focus on the positive aspects of sharing, such as staying connected with loved ones and creating digital memories.

Respecting their privacy
Think about a child's right to privacy and use this as a way to teach kids about online consent. Establish boundaries on what can be shared and what should remain private to foster lessons on consent and ownership of personal information.

But what if a school shares their photo online?
It's important to avoid tagging other parents or children in posts about their child. Refrain from tagging friends if you come across a photo of their child on the school's Facebook page. By being mindful of these considerations, we can prioritise the privacy and safety of all children involved.

If in Doubt, Leave it Out
Strike a balance between sharing your family's precious moments and safeguarding your child's privacy. Remember that you have the power to control the narrative and protect your child's online presence.

By exercising caution, respecting privacy permissions, and safeguarding against potential risks, we can strike a balance between sharing our children's moments and protecting their privacy. Ultimately, as parents, we have the power to shape their online presence and create a safe online environment for them.

By exercising caution, respecting privacy permissions, and safeguarding against potential risks, we can strike a balance between sharing our children's moments and protecting their privacy.