- The beginning of the academic year prompts many parents to post back-to-school photos online.
- Some experts say they could put their children in danger of predators.
- BI spoke to parenting specialists who weighed the risk and two parents with differing opinions.
When her 4-year-old starts pre-K this September, Alisha Gomez won't post back-to-school photos on her social media.
"I might text one to my mom and sisters, but that's about it," she told Business Insider.
The mom of two said that, unlike many proud parents, she resisted the urge to upload photos of her kids leaving the house, boarding the bus, or standing next to a sign at school.
"I've read too many articles about bad stuff happening," she said, referring to news stories about child abductions by perpetrators who may have spotted them online.
"It doesn't matter if your Facebook or Instagram is private; you just don't know everybody and anybody's intentions or what they're truly into," Gomez, 38, said.
"All it takes is for someone to say, 'Look how cute,' and share the picture or take a screenshot. You don't know where it goes from there," the New Yorker added.
Whether to post back-to-school photos has become a hot topic. It has become common for kids to pose with chalkboards that list their new grades, teachers, and interests.
Some experts claim it could put children at risk of pedophiles who might trace their whereabouts; others say the danger is mostly perceived.
A safety expert said parents should exercise caution when posting kids' photos online
Carly Yoost, founder of the Child Rescue Coalition, a nonprofit that helps protect kids from sex abuse, is in the first camp. She said "over-sharing" could attract predators.
"Details can expose too much information about a child," she said. "We encourage parents to stay updated with their privacy settings, pause, and be selective about their posts."
Yoost's tips include not sharing teachers' names. "They can be tracked back to which school they work," she said. She also advised against parents sharing their children's favorite things.
"You might write the foods they're into, their favorite sports, or what color they like to wear most," she said. "It's common for predators to look online for ways to identify with the child, start a conversation, and groom them."
She said parents taking photographs could consider blurring or using emojis to cover school or sports team logos on their kids' clothing. Similarly, students are often advised not to have their names written on backpacks or water bottles that reveal their identity.
But parenting expert Lenore Skenazy called for a reality check. The director of Let Grow, a nonprofit that promotes childhood independence and encourages parents not to hyper-focus on safety, said fears about back-to-school photos are overblown.
She cited US security specialist Bruce Schneier, who coined the term "Movie Plot Threat," meaning that the more a threat resembles a movie plot, the less likely it is to occur in real life.
"The idea that someone online is so well-organized that when they see your child and her school's name and teacher, they will look up the address, figure out the drop-off time, and plan a cross-country trip to come get your particular child — that's a movie plot threat," Skenaky wrote in an email to BI.
She noted that someone that a child already knows — not a stranger — is most likely to harm or molest them.
"Obsessing whether someone can read your child's name on their backpack or back-to-school photo is looking in the wrong direction when it comes to keeping kids safe," she wrote.
Dad Mark Kaley told BI the controversy about posting back-to-school photos of kids on social media didn't worry him and his wife, Heather.
Kaley said that he happily shared his kids' back-to-school photos on social media
He said that they planned to take pictures and videos of their 10-year-old daughter, Autumn, and 16-year-old son, William, when they return to school next week.
"I'll post them on Facebook and Instagram and not sweat the small stuff," he said, adding that the risks of anything untoward seemed negligible to him.
The father of three said the pros outweighed the cons, particularly because the photos brought joy to friends and relatives who followed the family online from afar.
"We have a lot of family in New York, and it's a great way to stay connected and make sure they're up to date on what we're all doing," Kaley, who lives in Florida, said.
He said he frequently posts images of Autumn with her latest teacher as she settles into the classroom. "It provides a nice history," the 50-year-old said.
"I'll write a few words such as, 'Look, Autumn has Mrs. Smith this year. It's going to be a great year!'"
He said that he liked to think ahead.
"I hope that, in 20 years' time, a photo will pop up on the timeline and provide a warm memory for Autumn, like, 'Wow! That was my desk in 5th grade.'"