To not let my kids appear on school social media?

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Since DC started school, I've never consented to their pictures appearing on social media.

I thought a lot of parents would do the same, but the majority of parents do seem to have consented as the social feeds are full of lovely pictures of everyone else's kids.

Last week for example, there were lots of great pictures of sports day, and the week before, pictures of a school trip.

I'm now beginning to think I'm just making myself miss out on nice pictures of DC at school events, and actually there's no a real downside to letting them be in the pictures.

What does everyone else think? AIBU to not consent, or is there a real risk to having pictures of children on open public social media?

Any school with public social media needs investigating and shutting down imo. Why would you consent to your children’s face being plastered all over the internet for every weirdo to see, with their exact location tagged and people being privy to their daily routine??

I'd imagine your school will change it's policy soon. Lots in our area are removing all pictures of children from websites and social media platforms.

@takingitdown-because a basic risk analysis would suggest that the odds of someone looking at my kids' primary school website, picking my DS out of a photo, travelling to the school, gaining access to a locked site, tracking him down and doing him any harm is fairly low.

It’s not worth the risk.

We know from social media that these pictures are taken by pedophiles and used to create CSAM. Why would you ever, EVER, risk that for your child?!

I'm honestly really surprised any schools still post public photos of children on their social media, given all we know these days. I definitely wouldn't be agreeing just so you get some nice photos, your child's online privacy is more important than a couple of cute pictures.

Haven’t you seen some of the things that have happened with school instagrams recently? The photos altered with AI and then used to blackmail in the school?

I can’t see a single reason why a school would need a public instagrams in the first place. What’s the benefit of it?

Has it ever happened?

I can't find any reports of a pupil being identified purely from SM, and the psycho travelling to that school, targeting that kid. I can understand it from point of view of when they are adults, people not being able to see pictures of them as children, or having their images out there if they don't want to be online. But I think the whole "you're going to be kidnapped by some Internet siko" is a bit much.

I don't get the hysteria? I don't consider the world is full of weirdos, who search random school photos to jerk over pics of children on a sport or outing event. The likelihood of this happening is so significantly low that it's not something I've ever let get to me.

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!

I definitely have no regrets to allow it. Then again, it was unheard of that parents would have an issue with it at that time.

I'm absolutely against children being on social media.

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.

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.

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

Says it all.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 both. We live in unprecedented times.

There is so much naivety on this thread.

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 .

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?

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

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