In our previous post, we introduced the word “Sharenting.” Many of you may be familiar with the term or have even used it, but some may not know the full extent of what it involves—or the potential dangers.
As parents, we love capturing and sharing our children’s milestones with our “friends” online. But while posting a cute or funny story may seem innocent, it’s crucial to be mindful of “sharenting”—the oversharing of our children’s lives online.
Once shared, photos and information can be difficult, if not impossible, to control, posing a real privacy risk. Personal details might unconsciously reveal locations, routines, or private moments, exposing children to potential privacy violations. These online posts become part of our children’s digital identity, and as they grow older, they may not appreciate having all their childhood memories accessible to everyone.
A vital consideration is the consent we give to schools for sharing our children’s images on their platforms. Schools often post full-face photos, which is a significant privacy risk. While group photos where children appear in the background during activities are generally safer, it’s every parent’s choice whether they are comfortable with full-face images of their child being published. Full-face photos are more susceptible to risks like deepfake technology, which can digitally alter or even manipulate children’s likenesses in ways that could lead to identity theft or malicious impersonation.
Another key point is that the more we share, the more we lose control over our privacy rights. For instance, consider the example of Minki van der Westhuizen, who’s known for carefully managing her children’s online privacy by never fully showing their faces in photos. This approach strengthens her family’s privacy rights because it limits the exposure of her children’s full identities. In contrast, celebrities who frequently share every detail of their children’s lives online may face more challenges in maintaining their right to privacy.
Photos of innocent moments, like bath time or “cute” videos that feel funny to us as parents, can also lead to unintended consequences. These moments may be endearing to share, but as children grow older, they might find them embarrassing, or worse, these images might become fodder for cyberbullying.
As children mature, building a trusting relationship where we ask for their consent before sharing anything about them becomes essential. This mutual respect fosters a healthy understanding of their privacy.
Finally, it’s crucial to understand that all social media platforms operate under international ownership, meaning anything shared there essentially becomes their property. This ownership gives platforms the right to use or repurpose content in ways we may not be able to control.
Let’s celebrate our children’s milestones thoughtfully, keeping in mind the long-term effects on their digital identity and ensuring we protect their privacy and safety online. Here are some tips to share safely:
• Limit identifying information
• Turn off location tags
• Check your privacy settings
• Think about their future
• Use “closed” sharing options
• Avoid full-face images or videos
• Skip embarrassing moments
Here’s a guide to adjust your Facebook settings for greater security and privacy, especially with the goal of protecting against the exploitation of children. By following these steps, you can limit what identifying information is visible, prevent location sharing, ensure only the people you trust see your posts, and use closed-sharing options.
1. Limit Identifying Information
Limiting personal information on your profile makes it harder for strangers to identify and locate you. Here’s how:
• Review Your Profile Details:
• Go to your profile and click on “About.”
• Go through sections like “Contact and Basic Info,” “Family and Relationships,” and “Places Lived.”
• Limit who can see each piece of information by clicking the privacy icon (a globe for Public, two people for Friends, etc.) next to each item. Set each item to “Friends” or “Only Me” to restrict visibility.
• Avoid Sharing Sensitive Information:
• Avoid listing your exact location, phone number, or other highly personal information that could be used to identify or locate you or your children.
2. Turn Off Location Tags
Location tags can give away sensitive details about where you and your family spend time. Here’s how to control this:
• Disable Location in Posts:
• When creating a new post, make sure to remove the location tag if Facebook automatically suggests one.
• Click on the location icon below the post (it looks like a map pin) to check if a location has been added. If so, click again to remove it.
• Turn Off Location Services on Your Mobile Device:
• For iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Facebook and set it to “Never.”
• For Android: Go to Settings > Location > App Permissions and select Facebook. Set it to “Deny” or “Off.”
• Remove Location Tags from Old Posts:
• Go through your past posts and remove location tags. To do this, click the three dots on the post, select “Edit Post,” and then remove the location.
3. Check Your Privacy Settings
Facebook offers a range of privacy settings that help control who can see your information. Here’s what you should adjust:
• Use Privacy Checkup:
• Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Settings & Privacy > Privacy Checkup. This will guide you through key privacy settings.
• Set “Who Can See Your Future Posts”:
• Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy and under Your Activity, set Who can see your future posts? to “Friends” or “Only Me.”
• Limit Past Posts:
• You can change the audience for past posts in bulk by selecting Limit Past Posts in the Privacy settings. This changes all previous posts to be viewable only by “Friends.”
• Adjust Profile and Tagging Settings:
• Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Profile and Tagging. Here, you can:
• Control who can post on your profile.
• Set who can see posts you’re tagged in.
• Enable reviewing posts and tags before they appear on your profile.
4. Use “Closed” Sharing Options
For sensitive or personal content, it’s best to share only with select people or groups, rather than your entire friend list.
• Use “Friends Except…” or “Specific Friends” Options for Posts:
• When creating a new post, click on the audience selector (it usually defaults to “Friends”) and choose “Friends except…” to exclude specific people or “Specific friends” to choose only those who can see the post.
• Create Custom Friend Lists:
• To manage who sees your posts, create custom friend lists. Go to Friends > Custom Lists > Create List, and add trusted friends.
• When posting, select this custom list as your audience.
• Consider Using Facebook Groups for Private Sharing:
• If you need to share photos or updates with a specific group of people, create a private or “closed” Facebook Group. Only members of the group will be able to see posts, adding another layer of privacy.
Additional Tips for Enhanced Security
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: This adds an extra step for account logins, making it harder for unauthorized users to access your account. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Two-Factor Authentication.
• Review Your Apps and Websites: Check which apps have access to your Facebook data. Go to Settings > Apps and Websites and remove access for apps you no longer use.
By implementing these settings, you’ll have greater control over your account’s visibility, helping to protect your family’s privacy and security on Facebook.