Is our online activity impacting upon the safety of our children? There are a lot of resources out there teaching us how to implement parental blocks and how to monitor our children's online activity, but how can we make some simple changes to our own behaviour to increase the level of safety surrounding them?
There are people using the world wide web, and in particular those on the dark web, who actively seek out children who will be easy targets for abuse, and even trafficking. Read on to find out what simple actions you can take to help minimise this risk...
If this information raises issues for you, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia) or your local crisis hotline.
1. Limit personal information
We love birth announcements, cheesy first-day-of-school pics, and updates about sporting achievements, but we aren't the only ones for whom this information brings joy. When we post what appears to be an innocent 'back to school' photo with our children wearing a school uniform with a logo, and us standing proudly beside them in our work uniform, we have announced to the world wide web that our child can be found in that specific location between school hours on weekdays, and that they can be found waiting for the bus and/or getting off the bus while we are still going about our work day. When we combine this information with the public announcement of their full name, date of birth, their extra-curricular activities and the names of all of their extended family members (who are tagged in our Christmas photos), we have handed all of the information a person needs if they intend to do harm towards our children.
The ideal solution would be to keep your children off social media altogether, but if this isn't something you are too keen on, the risk can be minimised by limiting how much personal information you post. Steps such as removing any reference to a school or daycare name/location, removing any reference to their full name and date of birth, trying not to provide regular information about activities that would give insight into your weekly schedule, and minimising how much you share about your own employment details and whereabouts, can all work towards increasing safety around your family.
2. Cover up!
Baby bath photos are adorable, as are toddlers running wild and free on the beach in nothing but their sunscreen, but these photos should be kept offline. When you post a photo online, there is a digital imprint which provides a physical description of the photo, which can be a direct roadmap for those looking for such photos. Even placing a social media filter or sticker over private body parts isn't enough, as these can be easily removed by those who know how. Despite these photos not generally including personal information that may provide access to your child, they can still be used and distributed by those who stand to profit from the images, and/or intend to use the images in a way you had not intended.
It can be hard to refrain from posting such cute images for your family and friends to share, but try to stick to those in which your children are clothed. Think about your intention behind posting the photos, and also consider the potential consequences if they were to fall into the wrong hands, remembering there are people out there who are actively seeking these out.
3. Keep family matters private
Conflict within families is a great way for perpetrators to build trust with a child or adolescent. When information such as divorce proceedings, child custody issues, parent/child conflict, and sibling rivalry are made public, this can open the door for a person to provide your child with a shoulder to cry on, thereby building trust and a foundation on which grooming can occur.
As tempting as it can be sometimes to seek advice on social media, it is best to use a more direct and private route to family and friends to ask for help. Our Protective Behaviours Toolkit for Parents provides further information on how grooming and abuse can begin, and how you can work towards preventing, recognising and acting on the signs of grooming and abuse.
BONUS NOTE: Privacy settings don't work
Although you may have the best intentions behind your online activity, and may increase your privacy settings to the maximum available, this provides a false sense of security. Privacy settings are easily bypassed through 'Google hacking' techniques (completely legal search functions) and they mean absolutely nothing on the dark web, where the most sinister intentions lie. The safest online activity is no activity at all. Aside from this, it is best to minimse the risk as much as you can by following these 3 simple tips.
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