As South Africa’s schools gear up to open their doors for the new academic year, parents are being reminded of the importance of safeguarding their children’s privacy in the digital age. With the commencement of the school year this week, education authorities have issued a warning against the sharing of children’s pictures on social media platforms, citing concerns over their safety.
Growing Concerns Amidst Rising Kidnappings
The resumption of classes, with many young learners entering Grade R and Grade 1, has raised apprehensions regarding the safety of children in an era marked by an alarming increase in kidnapping incidents. This unsettling trend has cast a spotlight on the risks associated with sharing personal information and images online, a matter that has garnered attention in The Citizen newspaper.
Tech Giants Take Action
Global tech giants, including Meta (formerly Facebook) and Google, have responded to these concerns by implementing measures to enhance online safety. Meta recently launched its inaugural youth and safety initiative, the #EbaSafeOnline campaign, aimed at promoting digital safety among young users. Google, too, has updated its platforms to grant users more control over their personal information and privacy settings in search.
Expert Insights on Privacy Risks
Adrian Stanford, the Southern Africa Chief Technology Officer at cybersecurity firm ESET, emphasized the potential risks associated with posting photos of children online. In an interview with eNCA, Stanford cautioned that sharing such images could inadvertently divulge crucial details about children, jeopardizing their security.
“When you post online, you are effectively removing some elements of privacy from your children’s lives, and it might seem harmless at first, but we never quite know how our children might feel about this in the future,” he noted.
Unintended Consequences and Consent
Furthermore, Stanford pointed out that posting images without a child’s consent could have unintended consequences. Children may later find the content embarrassing or become targets of cyberbullying. Such actions might even erode trust between parents and their children, and Stanford suggested that it all comes down to obtaining consent.
“Often, this practice is done without children’s permission. It can be solved by asking for children’s permission, but I think it is a little bit more complicated and nuanced as that when you think that often, we as adults, don’t make the best judgment calls in our own lives,” he added.
In light of these concerns, parents are encouraged to exercise caution when sharing their children’s images on social media platforms. Protecting their privacy and well-being in the digital age is a responsibility that merits careful consideration as the new school year unfolds.
