RICHLAND, Wash. – First-day-of-school photos and posts are an annual back-to-school tradition for many families, but those posts could pose risks if not done correctly.
Parents should think carefully before posting photos if they include student or school names, grade levels or any other personal information, according to the Richland Police Department.
“Avoid posting your child’s name, age, grade or any other favorite information,” said Sergeant Hyrum Stohel of the SER-ICAC task force. “These details can help predators get to know your child online and in person.”
Parents could keep the photos private or place them in a family album, rather than online or on social media, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
If parents want to post back-to-school photos, they should consider generic posts, such as “My kids are going back to school,” without revealing exact dates or locations, according to a social media post from RPD.
