Home »
Back to school photo safety
Tips to Keep Your Family Secure
By Better Business Bureau
The back-to-school season is here, and with it comes the annual tradition of first-day-of-school photos lighting up social media feeds. For many families, these snapshots mark cherished milestones and new beginnings.
But while posting these photos is a fun way to share memories, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is reminding parents to be mindful of the personal information they may be sharing.
Details captured in a single post, such as a child’s name, school, grade, or even a house number, can put families at risk of scams, fraud, and identity theft.
“Those first-day photos are something we all love to see, but they can leave a lasting digital footprint,” said Neesha Hothi, Director of Marketing & Communications, BBB serving Mainland BC. “By exercising a bit of caution about what you share and who you share it with, you can still celebrate that special moment while protecting your family’s privacy.”
Top tips for safer back-to-school photo sharing
- Keep personal details private
Avoid using personal and identifiable information like your child’s name, age, school, or your address in any signs or captions. Scammers can use this information to guess passwords or answer security questions. - Choose generic backgrounds
Be mindful of what’s in the frame, avoid house numbers, street signs, school names, or landmarks that could reveal your child’s location. - Check privacy settings
Regularly review your social media privacy settings to control who can see your posts. Remove any outdated or visible personal details, like addresses or phone numbers, from your profile. - Be cautious with friend requests
Decline requests from people you don’t know, or duplicate accounts impersonating friends and family. Scammers often use these to access your posts to mine personal information and/or target your contacts. - Strengthen your cybersecurity
Use strong, unique passwords across accounts and avoid reusing them. BBB’sCybersecurity HQoffers guidance on creating secure passwords and boosting online safety.
For more back-to-school tips and safety advice, visit BBB’s Back-to-School HQ.
