Experts warn parents about dangers of sharing children’s photos online

By Sharin Hussain via SWNS

Even posting pregnancy pics online can create a digital identity for your child that can be exploited, data scientists warn.

Experts say that once your child appears online they are vulnerable to identity theft or distribution of the images to third parties.

They add that parents should consider what content they share of their children online as this contributes to the development of a digital identity for their child.

Study author Dr. Valeska Berg of Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia, said: “A lot of parents are unaware that when they post things like photos or identifying information, such as school uniforms, they are creating a digital identity for their children.

“Even when they post about their pregnancy or anticipating the birth of the child, they give away identifying data. And that creates a digital identity even before the child is born.”

The study, published in the journal Paediatrics and Parenting, says parents think that sharing pictures on social platforms is safe.

Dr. Berg said: “A lot of the time people think that if they only share with their friends on social platforms like Facebook, that it is quite safe.

“However, we often have contacts on those social networks that are only superficially known.

"Therefore, I would recommend private messaging through Messenger, WhatsApp, Signal and so on. That is a lot safer than public sharing.”

She adds that creating secure networks is really important whether that is on Instagram or Facebook and that putting your profile on private is not enough to keep your children’s images safe.

Dr. Berg recommends covering the child’s face if they have to be in pictures to maintain their anonymity and refrain from posting identifying information about the child.

She said: “We found that some parents will use tools to blur out the face, or only take pictures where the child is facing away from the camera. The less information you can put out on your child, the better.”

The team also notes that when digital identities are created early for the child without the input of the child, their right to create their own digital footprint or identity is taken away, leaving them without a voice and choice.

Dr. Berg concludes: “Where possible, children should be involved in the development of their digital identity.

“Research to identify how this can be achieved and to give voice to the experiences of young children is needed to better understand this important and fast-moving area.

“Future studies should explore the perspectives of children as key stakeholders in the creation of their digital identity.”