Back-to-school photos could put your kids at risk, watchdog says. What not to do
Millions of kids are headed back to class, prompting a flurry of back-to-school photos shared online. However, safety experts are urging parents to think twice about what they post — and how much.
The Better Business Bureau has warned parents against sharing their children’s name and other sensitive information when documenting their first day back at school. The popular chalkboard sign pictures featuring smiling, wide-eyed kids could expose them to scammers, hackers and sexual predators, experts said.
“Back-to-school photos often involve kids holding a board with their full name, age, height, and other details,” according to to the consumer watchdog group. “Scammers or predators could use this information to commit identity theft or earn your child’s trust.”
To stay safe when posting online, the organization suggests:
- Omitting information about your child’s school, teacher or grade level
- Reviewing and updating privacy settings on your social media accounts
- Be wary of fake friend requests, or requests from people you don’t know personally
Author and lifestyle expert Cathy Pedrayes addressed the risks associated with the popular social media trend in a TikTok video that’s been viewed more than 451,000 times as of Aug. 23.
“Some of the (boards) have the child’s name, teacher’s name, school, favorite sport or activities,” Pedrayes said. “And maybe you don’t want a bunch of strangers knowing that.”
In another video, she advised against personalized lunch boxes, backpacks and school supplies for kids.
The St. Louis County Police Department echoed these warnings in a Facebook post telling parents to be mindful about the information they share online. A chalkboard with the words “first day of school” is safer than one that includes your child’s name, age and school, police said.
Experts say these details inadvertently expose you to scammers looking to track or steal your identity.
“Everyone loves the first day, back-to-school posting,” but the things “we normally put on those boards are sometimes family passwords,” Adrian Washington, public information officer for St. Louis County police, told Newsweek. “And oftentimes, those pictures are taken in front of your house.
“So you’re making it easy for someone to track and find who you are and use some of those words to discover a family password,” Washington concluded.
Experts say sensitive information should only be shared with close family and friends.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Back-to-school photos could put your kids at risk, watchdog says. What not to do."