Parents and carers have been urged to think twice before posting their back-to-school shots online, as the educational year begins around the country.
Happy snaps of students starting or returning to school are a traditional celebration of the first day back, but AFP Commander Helen Schneider said it was important to be vigilant about what information the pictures showed, and who might have access to them.
"It is an unfortunate reality that innocently posted pictures have been taken, shared and altered by those who have less-than-innocent intentions," Schneider said.
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"The AFP has seen non-explicit pictures of children and young people become the target of highly sexualised and inappropriate comments or role play, which our investigators define as text-based child abuse material."
She said "small actions" could help mitigate the risks of these "rare" events.
"Something as simple as blurring or obscuring the logo of your child's school on their uniform or in the background of an image can help ensure they don't become a target," Schneider said.
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"Seemingly innocuous details - such as a child or young person's favourite hobby or a street address visible on the front door - can enable offenders to build a profile of the child with the intent of grooming them, or even manipulating parents or carers to gain access or leverage.
"I also urge parents and carers to check their privacy settings to ensure pictures and information can only be accessed by trusted friends and relatives."
Top tips for parents and carers
- Check your privacy settings and make sure your social media accounts are secure and set to private or "friends only"
- Check the privacy settings on the device you are using
- If another person is taking photos of your child, talk to them about how the photos will be used and how they will be shared
- Ensure the background doesn't give away your address or location. Don't post your location or "check in"
- Keep your child's uniform logo hidden
- Don't publicly share your child's full name and age
- Avoid posting photos in school uniform
- Only share images of your children with people you know and trust
- For community accounts, consider having a closed group with approved members and ensure you have strong privacy settings in place.
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