This is one of the big debates on the Internet. Is it safe to share photos of your kids and your family on blogs, forums and other public venues? The answer is probably yes… and no.
What Are the Risks?
When most people think about posting photos of their kids online, they are generally concerned that a pedophile or stalker is going to hunt down their kids. While this is certainly a possibility, it just isn’t very likely that someone will see your children and become so enamored with them that they will hunt down your address and cross the country to find them.
The more pressing concern for parents should be that the photos are available for other people to see and, in most cases, download. Pedophiles do download photos and store them, so if this makes you feel uncomfortable, you shouldn’t be sharing your pictures. In addition, there is the chance that other people will “borrow” photos to claim as their own or to use in other forms of media.
One family discovered that their annual holiday photo was being used as a storefront ad in the Czech Republic (see AP article). In another story, a teenage girl discovered that her photo was being used as an advertisement for Virgin Mobile, halfway around the world (see CBS New article). While not something that is a rampant problem, it should be something parents take into account.
How to Protect Your Family Photos
- Keep them private – share only with family and friends
- Add a digital watermark when you do post things online
- Read the Terms of Service before posting – by posting photos on other websites, you may be granting permission for that website or its users to use your photos online and in print
Protecting Your Kids When Sharing Photos Online
In addition to protecting your photos, protect your children’s privacy as well:- Never share information about your kids that they wouldn’t share themselves – everything you post becomes public record
- Avoid giving out their full names, schools, names of friends, or other information that gives away their location.
- Ask family members and friends to follow the same precautions when they discuss your family online.
