Asked older kids to stop filming my young children

MintMat · 2025-10-11T08:38:01+00:00

On the school run yesterday afternoon, 2 year 5 children started filming my year 1 and year 2 children, along with a few other kids we were walking with. Straight away I said to them, why are you filming my children? They said they were going to 'put them on TV' and 'upload a video' I immediately asked them to delete the video and told them not to film young children. The children were wearing the same uniform as my kids so I called the school to make them aware that it had happened so they could potentially educate the older kids (whole year groups not single out any children) that it was not ok to film a 5 year old and 6 year old. Did I over react? I am so worried about phone use and the dangers of sharing pictures and videos online, did I make too much out of this situation?

Smartiepants79 · 11/10/2025 09:40

What an odd thing for them to be doing. You did the best thing I think. School should be aware if they’re doing it outside school. I feel an assembly coming on…

Monster6 · 11/10/2025 09:40

No you didn’t overreact. You did the right thing. At their ages, ie kids themselves, school will handle it appropriately. ☺️

Shade17 · 11/10/2025 09:41

You can ask politely if course, but ultimately they can film whatever they like.

HappyFrappy · 11/10/2025 09:42

You did the right thing, and I think it's sensible, but I understand it's legal to film in public places, regardless of parental consent etc. So if they refuse to stop, I don't think you can actually legally do anything about it. Though they are clearly displaying bad manners.

Longnightsshortdays · 11/10/2025 09:57

As far as I'm aware they are allowed to film other children so long as they are not harassing them or the film is not indecent.
BUT it isn't legal to post these films, as they said they were going to do, without your consent.

You did the right thing OP.
This type of behaviour needs to be addressed by education.

One of the problems I've had in the on going harassment from the local children is children, 10 or 11 year olds, filming me when I'm in my garden. And I know they share these videos which is why so many children in the area know who I am and it has escalated the problem.
When I talked to the police about this I've had various officers telling me the problems filming and Tiktok has caused for them.

The idea that older children actially think it's ok to film younger children and share their images is very worrying.

Shade17 · 11/10/2025 10:05

As far as I'm aware they are allowed to film other children so long as they are not harassing them or the film is not indecent.
BUT it isn't legal to post these films, as they said they were going to do, without your consent

It’s legal to post videos filmed in public as long as not for commercial use.

Longnightsshortdays · 11/10/2025 10:17

Shade17 · 11/10/2025 10:05

As far as I'm aware they are allowed to film other children so long as they are not harassing them or the film is not indecent.
BUT it isn't legal to post these films, as they said they were going to do, without your consent

It’s legal to post videos filmed in public as long as not for commercial use.

I'm not a legal expert but everything I've read about this says parental consent is necessary to film and post films of young children.

When I got my security cameras , which cover my garden and the immediate area outside my garden I was very uncomfortable about it because I didn't want to break the law myself by filming children. I checked with the police and the information I was given was that the intention of the filming was all important. And that it was acceptable to film what was happening because of the anti social nature if what was happening. And that I shouldn't share these images. So I'm very careful only to show them to police officers

Shade17 · 11/10/2025 11:38

Longnightsshortdays · 11/10/2025 10:17

I'm not a legal expert but everything I've read about this says parental consent is necessary to film and post films of young children.

When I got my security cameras , which cover my garden and the immediate area outside my garden I was very uncomfortable about it because I didn't want to break the law myself by filming children. I checked with the police and the information I was given was that the intention of the filming was all important. And that it was acceptable to film what was happening because of the anti social nature if what was happening. And that I shouldn't share these images. So I'm very careful only to show them to police officers

Edited

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And that’s the difference, CCTV on private land is not the same as filming in public. You can film in public and no consent is required.

C152 · 11/10/2025 11:40

Whilst I wouldn't be happy with people filming my child, and I would also ask someone to stop; there's no right to privacy in a public place. People can take photos and film whatever and whomever they wish (including children), as long as there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, and as long as their behaviour isn't designed to harass, intimidate or stalk the person being filmed.

youalright · 11/10/2025 11:42

Nobody should be filming anybody i really hate that laws haven't caught up with social media

C152 · 11/10/2025 11:43

Longnightsshortdays · 11/10/2025 09:57

As far as I'm aware they are allowed to film other children so long as they are not harassing them or the film is not indecent.
BUT it isn't legal to post these films, as they said they were going to do, without your consent.

You did the right thing OP.
This type of behaviour needs to be addressed by education.

One of the problems I've had in the on going harassment from the local children is children, 10 or 11 year olds, filming me when I'm in my garden. And I know they share these videos which is why so many children in the area know who I am and it has escalated the problem.
When I talked to the police about this I've had various officers telling me the problems filming and Tiktok has caused for them.

The idea that older children actially think it's ok to film younger children and share their images is very worrying.

Edited

Unfortunately, in the UK it is legal to post photos and videos online without the consent of the person in the image, or their guardian. The only time it is illegal to do so is if the images were obtained where there was an expectation of privacy (e.g. someone stole images from your phone and posted them, or images you had sent them for their eyes only were posted online, like in the case of revenge porn).

Longnightsshortdays · 11/10/2025 12:07

C152 · 11/10/2025 11:43

Unfortunately, in the UK it is legal to post photos and videos online without the consent of the person in the image, or their guardian. The only time it is illegal to do so is if the images were obtained where there was an expectation of privacy (e.g. someone stole images from your phone and posted them, or images you had sent them for their eyes only were posted online, like in the case of revenge porn).

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@C152

Just interested to know is your background a legal one? Because if what you say is correct it is different from what I have been led to believe.

Linenpickle · 11/10/2025 12:11

I think you can film in public but kids…. How weird of them. Where were the parents? I’d be right up to school.

Ablondiebutagoody · 11/10/2025 14:15

You did over react. It's a bit odd but they can film what they like

Jan24680 · 11/10/2025 20:26

Nope I'd say you are under reacting. As I recall I was all of 9 in year 5. Would seem like a massive safeguarding issue that 9 year olds have camera phones in school. Let alone recording other younger children in school who may have reason not to be posted online.

Summertimesadnessishere · 11/10/2025 20:54

Whether it’s legal or not I would be unhappy and would have asked them to stop. I don’t think you over reacted. I would have gone in with a neutral tone at first and explained why it’s not right in the hope that decent kids would understand. If they didn’t respect that and kept following and filming then surely that would then be harrassment and you could just tell them to leave you alone. If they didn’t, I’d tell them I’ll follow them home to their parents house and let them know personally how rude and disrespectful they are. Yours are very young children but 9 year olds are probably just being a bit silly and not really understanding/ enjoying playing with tech.
I think it’s worth contacting the school and having a discussion about it. But did they continue?

At this age it’s more about helping those boys develop some empathy. It might not be illegal but it’s intrusive and as a parent I’d want my child to have respect for others. I would never take a photo of my own children without their consent and I wouldn’t post or share a picture either. It’s common decency. Teach your children that’s it’s ok to ask people to stop doing something in their space they don’t like and to move away quickly if they don’t stop.
I do think the law is a bit outdated but then it can have its upside.

MissRaspberry · 11/10/2025 21:03

Shade17 · 11/10/2025 09:41

You can ask politely if course, but ultimately they can film whatever they like.

No they can't. She asked those kids not to film her kids on their phones. She's well within her rights to tell them that. Jeez even school has to ask for permission to photograph your kids cos of data protection. Seems like those year 5 kids need some educating on what gets posted on the internet stays there for anyone to access

Oaktreet · 11/10/2025 21:09

youalright · 11/10/2025 11:42

Nobody should be filming anybody i really hate that laws haven't caught up with social media

Edited

Exactly this, you shouldn't be filming another person without their consent whether in public or not.

Mh67 · 11/10/2025 21:26

You didn't do anything wrong but school won't do anything as it's outside of the building. They are only obligated to deal with issues when it's on their premises

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 11/10/2025 21:27

I think it's quite odd for year 5s (currently 9 yr olds) to have phones at all, and be able to upload videos without any parental locks or oversight tbh. I think it's right to tell the school, they should have a phone policy and it won't include "film 5 year olds and put them on tik tok in school uniform". I'd ask anyone filming my children to stop, and to delete what they had filmed, regardless of age (unless its a birthday party or similar, and even then no mum i know would post other peoples kids on sm without asking). I'd probably have asked them if their parents were around and had a chat, but our school is a small village school and there's never kids around without their parents, and the parents are all nice (appreciate this makes a difference!)

KarmenPQZ · 11/10/2025 21:32

I’d also be asking you schools policy on phones. Why do these kids have phones on the school run. Do school let them take them into school? My kids school is smart phone free and any child found with a phone in their bag (even if turned off) gets it confiscated for the half term.

RedSkyatNight25 · 11/10/2025 21:37

I hate this culture we have now where people film and post encounters in public.

I know it’s not illegal. But there will be cared for and adopted children in that school for whom it could be dangerous to be on social media. Especially in school uniform: it probably won’t have occurred to them but I think you did the right thing reporting to school.

Shade17 · 11/10/2025 21:38

MissRaspberry · 11/10/2025 21:03

No they can't. She asked those kids not to film her kids on their phones. She's well within her rights to tell them that. Jeez even school has to ask for permission to photograph your kids cos of data protection. Seems like those year 5 kids need some educating on what gets posted on the internet stays there for anyone to access

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Anyone can film you in public, you can ask politely that they don’t but that’s about it.

Kimura · 11/10/2025 21:45

MissRaspberry · 11/10/2025 21:03

No they can't. She asked those kids not to film her kids on their phones. She's well within her rights to tell them that. Jeez even school has to ask for permission to photograph your kids cos of data protection. Seems like those year 5 kids need some educating on what gets posted on the internet stays there for anyone to access

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Yes, they can. There is no law preventing people from taking photographs or filming in people without permission in public, even children.

Unless the photographs/footage are indecent, she has no (legal) right to ask them to stop, ask for a copy of the images or ask them to delete the images.

She can ask of course, they can say no.

DrowningInSyrup · 12/10/2025 04:50

HappyFrappy · 11/10/2025 09:42

You did the right thing, and I think it's sensible, but I understand it's legal to film in public places, regardless of parental consent etc. So if they refuse to stop, I don't think you can actually legally do anything about it. Though they are clearly displaying bad manners.

I think it's more than bad manners and this needs to change. From year 5 & 6s it will be quite innocent, but I find it attrocious to think that anyone can film my young daughter in a public place and do what they want with it. Just because it's in public and she is fully clothed does not make it right. Think of all the perverts that can happily and legally film our kids. It turns my stomach.