To not let my kids appear on school social media?

[TweetTwewt]

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?

It's unbelievable how critical thinking is going out of fashion being replaced by virtue signalling! Quite horrifying really!

This is how I feel. I don’t have the energy to be worried about the very small possibility that some paedophile will use images of my dc. They could just as easily take a photo of them when they’re in a public place. I think the hysteria over it all is ridiculous.

Latest advice to schools is that no children’s faces are shown at all on social media OR the school’s website.
YANBU.

It’s about benefit v risk. There is a huge benefit to children and whole families doing activities v any risk. There is no real necessary benefit to putting children’s photos online v any risk.

I consented but my kids were never in the school photos - oddly it was always the same few child who appeared at every event - so you might find you don't have to worry after all.

I dont consent to pics on school social media ...but am definitely in the minority.

Is this something that ever happens though?

it seems all urban legend

stranger kidnapping isn’t even a thing in the uk, let alone picking out some random running through the playground and tracking them down

I’m not talking about kidnapping. I’m talking about pedophiles scanning social media for images of children to use them to generate child sexual assault material.

My DS’s form tutor was found guilty of accessing CSAM online after he’d been in the school for a number of years. He would’ve had access to the form photo and probably other school pics in hard copy as well as online. My take is these people lurking everywhere in person and online so it’s best to safeguard your children as much as you can, but you can’t completely shield them.
My children are years out of school now - back in the day I did consent to images but no AI. then, or such ubiquitous SM when they were children (under age of consent).

It’s a minuscule risk! You put yourself above risk every time you walk your children down the street/ get in a car. They are more likely to be hurt by a car than a stranger in the internet.

My children have permission to be photographed but in 11 cumulative years of primary neither has been published so I question how much of an isssie it actually is in your average primary school. They likely update their website showing less than 10 children once every 5 years and most schools don’t post streams of activity on social media.

we have a dad in the class what’s app group who has been banging on about the dangers of photos on social media for 7 years, he’s absolutely obsessed and also loves the attention of arguing about it (on WhatsApp ironically). His daughter is a strange little girl- as you’d expect- and also massively anxious at events photos are taken ie Christmas play- to the point she gets physically ill. Everyone feels sorry for her

Let’s be honest, when you can cheaply buy actual CSA images I’m not sure this is quite the temptation you imagine.

For me there’s also the issue of consent as well as safety. I’ve never posted pics of dc on social media because I believe whether or how they appear and exist in the digital media world should be their choice, when they’re mature enough and informed enough to make that decision for themselves. Young people are so burdened now by the issue of the social pressures around their identities and appearance thanks to online media. I want to ward that off for mine for as long as possible.

It happens. All the time. Why are you minimising an actual issue?

Leaving the house is necessary. Posting your child on social media isn’t.

Sorry OP but I think you are worrying pointlessly.

There are millions of CCTV cameras everywhere. Everyone has a phone that can video. If someone wants to video your child (or you) it is the simplest thing to do.

So I think it's unduly precious to be worried about school social media (which is meant to be a fun thing!).

Hardly privy to their daily routine because there’s a picture of them at a sports day probably posted after the event finished…..

I think it’s easy to say that when your kids are little but as they get older there’s something really lovely about coming across old school pics and newsletters etc and seeing photos of them with their friends. My dc are 23 and 14 and we’ve laughed over various pics etc many times. The benefits of doing things don’t always have to be groundbreaking to be worthwhile.

They know where they are, when, with who.

Why would you risk that for even a second?

The actual issue is paedophilia.

im not entirely sure there is an issue with someone wanking over a doctored photo of my child if I’m honest. I will never be aware of it and neither will my child. Hopefully their local police will catch them and imprison them.

can I ask, what if your child was really talented? An actor, cheerleader, swimmer, runner? If they won the county championships or just this weeks park run. what If they were offered a role in a west end musical or a Netflix show.

Would it be a no no no from you in case someone makes them into a CSA image?

if so I think you really need to justify that.

But those photos can still be taken and shared with the class, via Dojo (or other apps) / parent newsletter etc. The OP's post was about the school sharing photos on an open social media account.

Many schools take and share photos of the pupils, without using an open social media account.

What puzzles me about this is that paedophiles have no need to take pictures of children off social media, they can simply take photos for themselves at places like parks, beaches, swimming pools etc.

But they could do that from any picture. They could just take a picture out in public, on a beach, I doubt they are going to the trouble of picking a kid from a school website. What would be the point? I've looked, aad I can't find any reports of that actually happening. Is this a real thing or a Mumsnet myth?

No surely rather get a photo of a baby in swimming shorts they’ll trawl the local primary school for a photo of someone in a heavy school uniform 🙄

sadly, anyone with any experience of paedophiles knows how frequently they’re hauled out of the swimming pool changing rooms.

It’s about benefit v risk. There is a huge benefit to children and whole families doing activities v any risk. There is no real necessary benefit to putting children’s photos online v any risk
Exactly! The problem is people massively inflating the risk and minimizing the benefit.

I never thought my son and I would experience such an amazing special bonding time looking at all family pictures.

The risk was so low, probably something like 000000.1%. it was totally worth it.