At MyKidsTime we’re big fans of technology and social media — after all, we run a website and social channels for parents ourselves! But every so often a scary story about what’s happened to a child’s photo online makes us stop and think again about safety.
Here’s our guide to posting images and how to stay safe online — some simple, sensible precautions to take before you upload photos of your children anywhere on the internet.
Using the internet, and social media in particular, creates a “digital footprint” for your child. As parents, it’s worth being aware of what that means before we post anything about them online. Here are some steps that can help keep those photos safer.
#1. Make sure all privacy settings are in place
It’s worth reviewing your privacy settings regularly, as social platforms tend to update or reset them from time to time without much warning. It’s a good habit for your child to check theirs too, on anything they use.
If you’re a regular Facebook user, take a few minutes to run through your privacy settings from time to time — you’ll usually find a privacy check-up option in your account settings menu.
Tip: you can limit who sees a particular post.
When you share a photo, you can usually choose a smaller audience — for example, just family — rather than your full friends list. Many platforms remember your last chosen audience and apply it to future posts by default, so if you’ve shared more widely before, it’s worth double-checking who a new post is going to before you hit share.
Recommended reading: Download our free Practical Internet Safety Checklist
#2. Remember once something is posted online it’s out of your control
Anyone can alter, crop or edit your words and images once they’re out there. You don’t need to be paranoid about this, but it’s worth keeping in mind before you post — not everyone online has good intentions.
Encourage your kids to think before they post. Remind them that anything they share can potentially be seen by a much bigger audience than they imagine.
#3. Never post photos you wouldn’t want everyone to see
Think about the fact that, technically, the whole world could see an image you post. Think too about how it might look years from now — when your child is older, or if a future employer goes searching.
A simple rule to teach your child: apply “the granny rule.” If they wouldn’t show a photo to their granny, it probably shouldn’t be online.
#4. Turn off location settings on any device you take photos with
When you take a photo on a smartphone and upload it, location information can be attached without you realising it.
Location services on smart devices can stamp your photos with GPS data, which a computer-savvy person could use to work out where you or your child were when it was taken.
Check the privacy and general settings on your phone and turn off location services for your camera app, and make sure location permissions are switched off in your social media apps too.
Recommended reading: A Parents’ Guide to Social Media Sites Popular with Kids
#5. Use a nickname for your child
When sharing a photo, consider using a nickname rather than your child’s real name. Avoid including full names, friends’ names, or details like a school name that could reveal where they can be found.
#6. Read the terms of service before posting on websites or social media
Most of us accept a platform’s terms and conditions without reading them properly when we sign up. It’s worth taking a look at the current terms for anything you use regularly.
For example, posting a photo on some platforms may mean you’re granting that platform permission to use your image elsewhere. If you’re entering a photo into a competition, always check the terms and conditions first.
Recommended reading: 11 Online Sites and Apps to Be Aware Of
#7. Consider resizing images or watermarking before uploading them
Uploading a smaller image size means anyone who downloads it only gets a lower-resolution copy. Check your camera or app settings for a smaller image size or lower resolution option.
You can also use apps such as Image Resizer to resize photos, or Snapseed to add a watermark, before sharing them online.
Recommended reading: Kids Online? 5 Tips You Should Know
#7. Google your family regularly
Check every so often what’s appearing online about your family. If you spot a photo you’re not happy with — say, one taken at a birthday party and shared without asking — you can contact whoever posted it and request it be taken down.
#8. Switch to using photo-sharing sites
You could also consider a photo-sharing site such as Flickr, which requires people to log in to view your pictures — unlike a public social media feed, which anyone following you can see.
What to do if you find a photo online that was posted without permission
1. If the use of the image is inappropriate or concerning, contact the relevant authorities and report it.
2. Contact the social platform or website directly to request that it be taken down.
3. Search for any copies or reposts of the photo elsewhere online, and request removal from those sites too.
4. Explain to the website or platform that it’s your photo, or that you or your child appear in it, and that you didn’t give permission for it to be used this way — or that you hold the copyright.
Some useful further reading
- 10 Things You Should Know Before Posting Pictures of Your Children on Social Media — The Irish Examiner
- Is It Safe to Post Pictures of My Kid Online? — Common Sense Media
- What Is Photo Sharing? — Webwise
FAQs on posting images and staying safe online
Is it safe to post photos of my child online?
It can be, as long as you take a few precautions — check your privacy settings, limit who can see the post, avoid sharing identifying details like full names or school names, and think about how the photo might look years from now.
How do I stop location data being attached to my photos?
Turn off location services for your camera app in your phone’s privacy settings, and switch off location permissions for any social media apps you use.
What should I do if someone posts a photo of my child without permission?
Contact the person or platform directly to ask for it to be removed, search for any reposts elsewhere, and if the use is inappropriate, report it to the relevant authorities.
Should I use my child’s real name when sharing photos online?
It’s safer to use a nickname rather than your child’s full name, and to avoid mentioning details like their school that could help identify their location.
Are photo-sharing sites safer than social media?
Sites that require a login to view your photos, such as Flickr, generally give you more control over who sees your images than a public social media feed.
Related articles
- A Parents’ Guide to Social Media Sites Popular with Kids
- 11 Online Sites and Apps to Be Aware Of
- Kids Online? 5 Tips You Should Know
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