Posting children's photos and details on social media creates a digital profile without the child's consent, often including full name, address, date of birth, hobbies, and interests. Such profiles can enable cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, privacy breaches, and contact by strangers. School badges and uniform photos can disclose the child's school, while porch photos can reveal house numbers and street characteristics. Written captions often add names, ages, and school start dates. Sensitive information such as health conditions increases risk. Social account privacy settings do not guarantee protection because content can be shared or accessed by malicious actors.
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. 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.
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