Parents told they need to ask children before taking pictures of them
Parents are divided over new advice that says they need to ask their toddler’s permission before taking their photo and posting it to social media. Will you be asking before you snap?
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Parents should ask their toddlers for permission before taking a photo, the federal government’s eSafety watchdog warns, in the wake of over-sharing on social media.
Like teaching “stranger danger” from a young age, cyber safety experts say parents and child care services need to start talking to two-year-olds when taking and posting photos.
Some parents are upset certain childcare centres are already restricting the sharing of photographs, in line with the new advice.
Mother-of-two Labor MP Courtney Houssos said asking permission of a toddler before taking their photo was a step too far.
“This is too much for a two-year-old,” she said.
The warning is from the “Early Years, Online Safety for Under 5s” booklet that is being launched today in Canberra for Safer Internet Day and is being rolled out to preschools around the country. Parents will also be able to download the guide.
ESafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said parents and educators needed to be aware of the risks of “sharenting” — the over-sharing of children’s images and information on social media platforms.
“By involving them early, we can foster sound habits and establish the resilience and critical thinking they will need if a stranger with malicious intent tries to solicit their image online — or if they are tempted to share a compromising photo of a friend online. And we have seen this can happen with children as young as three,” she said.
Melbourne mum and blogger Anna Du Rieu said her preschool was bringing in new rules around approving photos before posting to a parents’ group.
“I feel like it’s right on both sides: as a parent I like to see what my kid is doing throughout the day but I can see why some parents might not want to.”
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Mrs Du Rieu said she now asks her three-year-old when taking his photo.
“I have made a rule that I ask Dominic before taking a photo and Reuben is nearly two but he will push my phone away if he doesn’t want me taking photos.”