BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. — As many students across the region prepare to head back to school, social media feeds will soon be filled with a familiar back-to-school tradition: first-day photos.
While those pictures can be a great way for families to celebrate a new school year, parents and guardians should take a few moments to consider how much information they may be sharing publicly.
The popular first-day-of-school signs held by children often include details such as a student’s name, age, grade, teacher, school and other personal information. Combined with information already available on a parent’s social media profile, those details can potentially reveal much more about a child than intended.
Check the Background Before Posting
The sign isn’t the only thing parents should consider.
A photo taken outside the home could show a house number, street sign, recognizable landmark or vehicle license plate. Photos taken at a bus stop could reveal where and approximately when a child waits for transportation each morning.
School buildings, logos, uniforms, backpacks and other identifying items may also reveal which school a student attends.
Parents should also be cautious about tagging a school or adding a precise location to a post.
Small Details Can Add Up
A single piece of information may seem harmless by itself. However, several pieces of information shared across multiple posts can create a much clearer picture of a child’s daily routine.
For example, publicly sharing a child’s full name, school, grade, teacher, bus stop and first-day schedule can provide considerably more information than most parents would intentionally give to a stranger.
Parents should consider limiting first-day posts to information they would be comfortable sharing with anyone who could potentially see or receive a screenshot of the post.
You Don’t Have to Skip the First-Day Photo
Families don’t necessarily have to stop the tradition.
Instead, consider using a simple sign that says “First Day of School” or lists only the school year or grade. Avoid including a child’s full name, teacher, classroom number, bus information or other identifying details.
Before posting, take another look at the entire photograph—not just the child—and check for addresses, street signs, school identification or other information in the background.
Parents can also review the privacy settings on their social media accounts and consider sharing more detailed photographs privately with family and close friends rather than publicly.
Another option is to take the traditional photograph now but wait until later to post it. Real-time posts can reveal where someone is at that particular moment.
A Good Reminder for the New School Year
The first day of school is an exciting milestone, and photographs are an important way for families to preserve those memories.
But once a photograph is posted online, parents have limited control over where it may eventually be shared.
Taking an extra minute to check what’s visible—and what personal information is included—can help families celebrate the first day of school without unnecessarily sharing details about a child’s identity, school or daily routine.
A simple rule before hitting “post”: If you wouldn’t give the information to a stranger, consider leaving it out of the photo.
