To not let my kids appear on school social media?

I think it depends on why you opt out.
If there is someone that you don't want to have access to any pictures of your child at all (for whatever reason) then opting out is definitely the right thing to do.
When my children were at school the pupils who were not allowed to be shown in photos were often taken to play/work at the side when photos were taken (at least when I was there) because the objections were taken very seriously. If I had been in that position I would have been really reassured but I did feel a bit sorry for the children. This was a small school with only a few children who were not allowed to appear in photos so quite noticeable.
I never had a problem with my children's photos being on the school Facebook page etc as the photos published were always really good (they never published the awful ones obviously) and I enjoyed seeing snapshots of their days. I also used to pass the link to my mum so that she could see it too. I also felt that these would always be "safe" photos.
I also found that, once our children went to school or became involved in group hobbies, it was impossible to stop pictures appearing here and there because other parents would inevitably take photos of their children either alongside my child or with my children in the background and post them. The school/ groups would always ask parents not to take photos or film but that was largely ignored. That is where my concerns would lie.
Even now I still get photos popping up on my social media from 15 or 20 years ago of the children at some event or other. To be honest I love it.

Do you no see that there is a world of difference between a paper newsletter and a digital one? I don't think it's hysteria to think children deserve to make their own choices about what information is online about them
There was social media too when they were older but it made no difference.

The risk factor of a paedophile doing something with a picture on line and targeting my children specifically was far far too low to take away the joy of looking back at these many years later.

It still doesn’t give any guarantees.

Well that is crazy! Juat close the group to parents only and problem is gone.

Our school do not have social media but a parent app where they upload photos of the children.

The parent app has individual login details issued by school.

It's quite well run, you can still opt out of your child being uploaded to the app and you have to sign to say you won't share these photos on any social media platform. It doesn't allow screenshots but obviously you could take a photo from another phone, hence the required signature.

It’s well known they take pictures from the internet to make CSAM. Why risk it?

Someone like op is putting her child above herself. She would like the pics and the boasting factor. Pics being posted is in her interest but not the child’s. So she is missing out for her child’s benefit. That’s what good parenting is.

It seems like there’s considerably more concern about “paedophiles” as this sinister outside force when the majority of risk comes from people known to the family. People are fucking horrendous at safeguarding their children - they give them smart phones at a young age. Over 60% don’t have any parental controls on them. Boyfriends and step dads and other male relatives are far more of a risk to the actual child than some unknown person taking an image from a school website.

Photos shared in a school newsletter for parents = fine
photos shared on open social media- not fine due to AI porn risks unfortunately

No, most of them aren’t. Even if they are, you need to er on the side of caution

Why would there be no photo just because it’s not shared on social media?
What’s wrong with closes newsletters only going to parents?

But they are closed groups - so not public? At least that’s what my schools one is- I love looking at pics of them at school - on trips etc . I wouldn’t want to lose that for a minuscule risk of something .

There is so much naivety on this thread.

It’s both. We live in unprecedented times.

I always allowed mine to appear, I get the arguments for not, but not something that ever kept me up at night. It’s your choice though.

it’s not abduction so much as AI weirdness. There was a segment in Woman’s Hour where AI paedophiles used school photos to manufacture obscene images then blackmailed the school. Honestly used to be relaxed about this mine left primary in 2020. Now I would take your stance.

My son is in Year 10, and I have never consented to his image being on the school's social media....or used by the school in any way. I've been messaged several times to 'update my consent', which I have ignored.

Your child is your responsibility, and it's not anyone else's choice but yours. If you aren't comfortable, then don't do it. It doesn't matter what other parents choose to do.

I'm a teacher and ICT lead in a primary school and have been having a lot of discussions about the future of photos on the school social media. I would like to see it at least severely curtailed due to risk. I am not worried about people kidnapping students or something more concerened about AI alterations being used to apply pressure on the school, student or parents. When my own daughter started school last September I gave permission for pictures in the school and physical format but not online.

You do you. Don't be swayed by what others are doing.

I d see the argument for safe guarding but isn't it just depressing we are going to have a whole generation of young people fearful of being photographed or having a public profile? My daughter was a netball trophy and there will be no available photograph of the presentation which, yes, is disappointing.

I'm surprised that they only have an open social media account to share these images on. Do they also use Dojo, Tapestry etc?

If not, it's a shame that the only way to see the photos is if you consent to your child being shared on an open social media account. I know a lot of parents who wouldn't agree to that.

So you ignored that pedophiles make CAAM from images of children on social media.

Says it all.

Last year, I moved house. It took me to sort out the attic and looking through old boxes. My DS, now in his early 20s joined me and we shared an amazing moment looking at old school newsletters and pictures. Priceless!

Do you no see that there is a world of difference between a paper newsletter and a digital one? I don't think it's hysteria to think children deserve to make their own choices about what information is online about them.

FWIW schools are being targeted where kids faces are taken from social media, used to generate AI porn and then the school blackmailed to prevent the release.
The school should absolutely not be continuing to post faces of children online given this is a new and NATIONAL safety alert.

Keep your kids off social media full stop.

I'm absolutely against children being on social media.