The festive season is approaching, and with it comes the desire to share lots of happy family photos on social media. social media. While Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and now TikTok are very useful tools for keeping in touch with family and having fun with your children, it is essential to be aware of the risks.
Why protect your children on the Internet?
Photos of your children could end up in the hands of paedophiles. Beach photos with just a Santa hat, bath photos with foam beards, or TikTok videos of the latest hit song in crop tops and high heels like “influencers”... these photos may seem harmless to you, but they can be a source of excitement for paedophiles. Be cautious before posting them!
Furthermore, it is important to respect your child's image rights. Your child's image does not belong to you! As parents, you will explain to them as they grow up the importance of controlling their image rights. How can you explain this to them properly if you do not respect it from an early age?
How can you protect your children on social media?
By following the 6 tips below:
1. Request authorisation: If your child is old enough to respond, show them the photo before posting it. This sets a good example. From an early age, they are aware of their image and can give their opinion on how it is used. If they are too young, think carefully before posting. You are building their online reputation, so consider the impact your photo will have in 5 or 10 years' time!
2. Hide the faces: Remember to hide the faces of minors in photos. It is best to use a photo of your child from behind or in profile so that their face is not clearly identifiable. Social media platforms now offer filters and emojis that make it easy to hide a face.
3. Do not disclose their identity: On the internet, it is strongly advised not to reveal your child's identity. Replace their first and last names with a nickname.
4. Do not specify geolocation data: Avoid specifying a precise location when sharing a photo. Remember, your child can easily be located by anyone if you post your address, their school's address, or the park you visit every Wednesday!
5. Do not share ridiculous and intimate situations: Like you, your child does not want to expose themselves in an embarrassing or even intimate situation on social media. They could then become the victim of mockery or insults.
6. Publish within a restricted framework: All social networks now allow you to adjust your privacy settings and create restricted groups rather than sharing with everyone or, worse still, publicly. The latest feature, for example, is Instagram's ability to define a “Close Friends” group to restrict access to your stories to a specific group.
For further advice, visit our websites e-enfance.org or www.netecoute.fr, or contact Net Ecoute on 3018.
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