Expert warns not to post first day of school photos online

It’s the time of year you might see your social media feed filled with pictures of kids heading out on their first day of school, but a local security expert is warning parents not to put too much personal information online.

DJ Lawrence with Pretect Protection Services says, before you even think about posting that picture, ask yourself, “Do you really want to share everything in your life with those who follow you on Facebook, X, or Instagram?”

“People want to assume the best of each other, and that’s really nice, but when you’ve got kids and a lot at stake there, it’s critical to kind of take that step back and really assess it with a careful view. You don’t want to assume that people have the best of intentions when they reach out to be your your friend, or maybe you’ve contacted them through something else and you don’t know them really,” said Lawrence.

He says turning off the geo-locating feature on your phone is a good start, because that can tell a potential threat to your family exactly where you live, and sharing your kids’ school name or teacher can be equally as dangerous when you don’t know everyone on your “Friends and Family” list.

“Those can show to within a few metres where the picture was taken. Do you really want to show everybody where your child plays, or where their bedroom is, or something like that?” He asked.

Finally, including your kids’ favourite foods, movie stars, or band could help a criminal create a bond with your child, one that could lead to something less than positive.

“If you are being targeted, or they are being targeted, sometimes one isn’t related to the other. They’re interested in the child, or they’re trying to do something to you as an adult that would cause you harm… Your kids at a certain point are going to have their own digital footprint, and do they necessarily want their every step published? Some kids are more private than others. Some aren’t really going to care about it,” said Lawrence.

If you believe a child is being targeted for abuse or exploitation online, you can visit cybertip.ca to find resources or file a report.