Police share grim back to school warning

Federal Police have urged parents to think twice about posting their little one's first day at school online for a very scary reason.

First steps, first words, first day of school.

When you have a camera in your pocket or handbag every day, it becomes second nature to whip out your phone to capture your kids’ milestones. 

However, with the advancements in technology and social media, this second nature also comes with added risk.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

A police warning

Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider has warned parents about thinking twice before posting their child’s first day of school online.

"We have seen instances of otherwise innocent images being used in child exploitation material or offenders using information from photos, such as school uniforms, to identify and groom children," Schneider advised.

"While these incidents are rare, they do happen, which is why we are urging families to be proactive with online safety and keep their information safe as the 2024 school year gets underway."

RELATED: Parents furious after babysitter posts photos of their kids

A scary picture

In the ever-expanding realm of online dangers, the We Protect Global Alliance's 2023 Global Threat Assessment paints a grim picture of escalating child sexual exploitation and abuse. 

Shockingly, it reported cases of child sexual abuse material have surged by 87% since 2019, and up to 20% of children in select countries have fallen prey to online exploitation. 

As emerging technologies like generative AI and eXtended Reality introduce new threats, issues such as financial sexual extortion and AI-generated abuse imagery are on the rise. 

Online grooming, with an 80% increase, continues to haunt us, and livestreaming child sexual abuse remains a global legal challenge. 

Perpetrators employ various tactics, including link-sharing and the use of private environments with end-to-end encryption, making detection an uphill battle. 

Are your social media accounts set to private? Source: iStock

A helpful tip

With image editing apps and programs like Canva so easily accessible, Schneider recommended that parents edit their photos before hitting post.

"Parents can also easily edit the logos of their children's uniforms to conceal where they attend school as an extra precaution."

Originally published as Police share grim back to school warning