It’s that time of year again! The brand new uniforms are ironed, the school bags are packed with fresh notebooks, and the excitement for a new school year is in the air. As proud parents, our first instinct is to capture these precious moments and share them with our friends and family online. That “first day back” photo is practically a tradition!
But in our excitement, we can sometimes forget that the internet has a long memory and that not everyone viewing our posts has good intentions. As a digital parenting coach, I want to help you share your joy safely.
Before you click ‘post’, let’s go over five crucial things not to do online this back-to-school season to protect your family’s privacy and security.
1. DON’T Post Photos with Visible School Logos and House Numbers
This is the most common mistake and potentially the most dangerous. A photo of your smiling child in their crisp new uniform, standing in front of your gate, seems harmless. But what information have you just given away?
- The School Badge: This tells strangers exactly where your child will be from roughly 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekday.
- The House Number/Street: This reveals where they live.
In a single picture, you may have broadcast your child’s daily routine and home address.
What to do instead: Take your photos, but be strategic! Have them pose against a plain wall inside your home. If you must take a photo outside, do it from an angle that doesn’t show your gate number or identifiable street signs. You can also use a simple photo editing app to blur out the school crest on their uniform before posting.
2. DON’T Share Their Full Name, Age, and New Class Details
It’s natural to want to celebrate milestones. A caption like, “My baby, Adekunle Johnson, is all grown up! Can’t believe he’s 7 and starting Primary 3 at Top Scholars Academy!” feels full of love.
Unfortunately, it’s also a goldmine for identity thieves or predators. Details like full name, date of birth, age, and school name are key pieces of personal identifying information (PII) that should be fiercely protected.
What to do instead: Keep your captions general and sweet. Try something like, “My big boy is off to his new class! Wishing him a wonderful year ahead.” Your true friends and family already know the details.
3. DON’T Post “Chalkboard” Pictures Filled with Personal Details
Those trendy first-day-of-school photos with a chalkboard detailing your child’s favourite things, their teacher’s name, and what they want to be when they grow up are adorable. But they are also a treasure trove of personal data.
A predator could use this information (“Your mum told me you love Paw Patrol and that your teacher is Mrs. Adebayo!”) to build false rapport and appear trustworthy to your child.
What to do instead: If you love the chalkboard idea, focus on fun, non-identifying facts. List their favourite food, a funny quote, or their love for drawing. Leave out specifics like the teacher’s name, school name, or even their best friend’s name.
4. DON’T Let Your Geotagging Give You Away
Many social media apps, like Instagram and Facebook, automatically tag your location when you post a photo. If you post that first-day picture from your driveway, you’ve tagged your home address. If you post it from the school gates, you’ve confirmed your child’s school location.
This digital breadcrumb trail makes it easy for others to track your family’s movements and patterns.
What to do instead: Turn off location services for your social media apps in your phone’s privacy settings. It’s a simple fix that significantly boosts your family’s security. If you want to mention a location, wait until you have left before posting about it.
5. DON’T Assume Your “Friends Only” Setting is Foolproof
We often post with a false sense of security, believing our privacy settings will protect us. But you can’t control what your friends do. A well-meaning auntie might screenshot your photo and share it on her own, more public, profile. Furthermore, friends’ accounts can be hacked, giving strangers access to your private posts.
What to do instead: Operate with a “savvy sharer” mindset. Before posting anything, ask yourself: “Would I be comfortable if this photo or information ended up on a public billboard?” If the answer is no, it’s best shared privately in a trusted family WhatsApp group rather than on a wider social media platform.
Back to School Safety: 5 Things You Should NEVER Do Online Share on XEnjoy this exciting back-to-school season and share the beautiful moments, but do it smartly. A little bit of digital caution today can go a long way in keeping our children safe for all their tomorrows.
Wishing all the students a fantastic and safe school year!
About the Author:
Yetty Williams is a Cyberpsychology-trained Digital Parenting Coach and Author of Digital Savvy Parenting: What the World Urgently Needs.
She is passionate about helping parents navigate the complexities of the digital world with confidence and empowering families to build healthier, relationships with technology.