Is your child a target?

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Most children that grow up in today's modern world are well-versed in “stranger danger.” In general, most children know that if someone walks up and asks them their name, they shouldn't respond, and also that they should never go with a person they don't know. But what happens if a complete stranger seems to know everything about them – are they as easy to recognize as a stranger then? What if that stranger knows not just your child's name, but their classroom, grade, bus number, school, and how old they are? Will your child stick to “stranger danger” rules when faced with someone who is familiar with them? What if the stranger knows mom or dad's name, too, along with where they work? Will an innocent child know enough to stay away?
Summer break is nearly over, and that means that social media profiles everywhere will stop depicting “fun in the sun” and will soon be flooded with adorable back to school photos as children across the country gear up for a new year of learning. But are these shared posts such a good idea?
These posts often include a photo of the new student, bearing a brightly-decorated sign that lists their name, teacher, age, school and favorite things on it. A single post can teach a predator everything they need to know to pose as a friend of the family, with information that your child would be familiar with and trusting of. Using this information, a criminal could reason with your child, saying things like, “Your mom is Sarah, right? She's a friend of mine at the newspaper office, we work together. She asked me to pick you up for her. You're in Ms. Julie's class, right? My son was in her class last year; she's nice, right?”
This conversational approach, mixed with close, personal details about your child makes an instant friend out of a complete stranger, and puts your child in serious danger. While your family and friends would still adore seeing posts from you about your child's first day of school, avoid including the following details in your post:
Your child's full name. The people you are sharing the photo for already know your kid's full name, and if they don't, they don't need to to enjoy the photo.
Details about your child's school. Avoid including what class they are in, what school they are going to, who their teachers will be, and any extracurricular programs they are a part of. Additionally, refrain from including what bus your child is on, or the name of the bus route.
Personal details about your child. Many posts include a favorite hobby or something that the child is excited to learn about in the upcoming year. Keep these details vague, if you must include them at all. Something like, “I like dogs,” instead of “I love my dog, Spot!” can allow you to share cute things with relatives and friends on social media without providing additional data to unsavory individuals.
Location! Do not take a photo of your child in front of your home or car, or in front of any easy to recognize features at the bus stop. Keep any street signs, house numbers or license plates out of frame. Remember that even if your account is set to private, anything that is uploaded is on the internet forever, and nothing is truly private to those who now what they are doing.
Assistant Special Agent, Scott Argio, with the FBI's Pittsburgh office, says that while privacy settings can help, “the main thing about posting things on social media is, you're posting it for the world to see.” He advises parents be careful about putting any information out there that could help any individual document or record you or your family's habits.
“Child predators online are looking to build profiles for people to build relationships,” he says, “and they can use that information at a later date to form a trusting relationship.”
In addition to being aware about back to school posts, experts warn against posting about parts of your routine, such as when you drop or pick up your children, and information about the time of after- school activities. These posts can tell predators when you are away from your children, and a good estimate on how long you'll be gone for.
While it's understandable that parents love showing off their adorable and talented children, it is important to review each post carefully before posting, because you never know who might be logged in.