Did Your Baby Take His First Digital Footprint Before He Started Crawling? 9 GKIS Social Media Tips For Young Parents

I just shared a post about face recognition technology that might have freaked you out a little. Maybe it got you wondering about your child’s digital footprint and if you want to be the one to start it?

Although some parents are concerned enough to not post ANY child pictures online, it is an unrealistic expectation for most families. The benefits of sharing your little one’s firsts with friends and family is just too awesome to pass up. Perhaps some thoughtful consideration prior to making social media decisions is a good starting point. Ultimately each family must determine online privacy rules of their own, and then communicate it to friends and family.

Here are some sensible GKIS tips on how to protect your child’s privacy online:

1. Set your privacy settings to friends-only or tighter on any social media site where you’re posting child images.

    

2. Don’t use your child’s image for social media profile pictures or cover photos. These are public regardless of your privacy settings.

    

3. Only post your child’s online pictures with a nickname (e.g., “the boy” or “Teeny Tiny”).

    

4. Never post nude shots or embarrassing activities. Consider how your child will feel about the image if it were shown at a middle school assembly when she is twelve years old.

    

5. Be aware that face recognition technology can be used with even side profile pictures.

    

6. Always ask permission from other parents before posting pictures of their children, like from parties or play-dates.

    

7. Don’t use your child’s pictures for professional marketing purposes.

    

8. Don’t give permission for schools and camps to use your child’s images for marketing purposes.

    

9. Create a Google Alert with your child’s name so you’ll be alerted of an online mention.

    

For a vast majority of parents this ship has already sailed. However, online decisions should not be flip and uniformed. Finally don’t forget that friends and family can also tag or forward your posted images, so once posted the image will no longer be under your control. Please comment below and let me know what you think about the risk of digital footprints.

I’m the mom psychologist who will help you GetYourKidsInternetSafe.

Onward to More Awesome Parenting,

Tracy S. Bennett, Ph.D.
Mom, Clinical Psychologist, CSUCI Adjunct Faculty
GetKidsInternetSafe.com

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