September is here, which means that children across the UK will be standing proudly outside their parents' front door for those 'first day of school' pictures to mark the new academic year.
The snap has become a rite of passage for most new parents who wish to share the images with their friends and family on social media as their child reaches another milestone.
With the boom of social media over the last 10 years, users are sharing their milestones online now more than ever, but sharing those first day of school snaps online could actually put your child at risk.
Here's why you should never post your child's first day snaps on social media.
Why you should never post your child's 'first day of school' pictures online
Parents and caregivers should always be aware of the risks when it comes to posting pictures of their young ones online.
Proud mum and dads post millions of images of their children online each year, and those with public profiles could have their pictures seen by anyone.
Cybersecurity company McAfee has previously warned that despite fears paedophiles could access images, 53% of parents and guardians will still post about their children's first day at school on social media.
Raj Samani, chief scientist and fellow at McAfee, told the Metro : "Before proud parents share their children’s ‘first day’ photos on social media, they must consider the potential consequences of what they post.
"These sorts of images can be used to gather personal information such as school, location, a child’s full name, or even birth dates to paint a picture of who they are."
Children's charity Bernardo's has also found that paedophiles can find these images of children online and circulate them.
However, safety issues are not the only reason as to why parents should steer clear of posting their child on Facebook and Instagram.
Studies have shown that children often feel worried and anxious when their parents upload private images of them.
Mr Samani added: "Parents also need to think about the emotional risks as they build a ‘digital identity’ of their children online, often without their consent."
Tips for sharing images of your child online
Parents should be aware of the risks of posting images of their child online, and here's how you can reduce the risk on social media:
- Update your privacy settings - Parents should check and see who can access their information on social media and consider changing their settings to private on the likes of Facebook and Instagram.
- Reconsider the social media post - Parents should think twice about posting their child online, whether this is due to the risks of online exposure or whether their child could be embarrassed to feature on their parent's social media.
- Ask for permission - If your child is old enough to understand the risks of social media, it is important to ask for their permission before posting online.
- Read social media protection resources - To understand the risks of posting your child online, visit Childnet, the NSPCC or Internet Matters to read their social media resources.
Read more:
- Mum hits back after being accused of lazy parenting over school holiday snacks
-
England's most oversubscribed schools named as parents struggling to secure kids a place
-
Teacher left in tears over nickname students used in class - after figuring out joke
-
Mum gobsmacked after teacher’s 'bonkers' complaint about daughter’s packed lunch
