11/10/2026
GRANDMA, PLEASE STOP! DON'T POST YOUR GRANDCHILDREN'S PICTURES ONLINE AGAIN!
READ THESE 10 HIDDEN DANGERS BEFORE YOU POST THAT CUTE CHILDREN'S PHOTO!
Dear parents and grandparents,
We know you're proud of your children and grandchildren. Their smiles brighten your day. Their funny moments make you laugh. You want the world to see how beautiful they are.
But please, let's pause and think.
Does everyone on the internet need to see your child?
Some parents share pictures of children in diapers, bathing, sleeping, crying, or wearing little or no clothing.
Others post their school uniforms, school names, birthdays, locations, and daily routines.
What feels like an innocent family memory to you may become material for misuse by someone with harmful intentions.
🚨 10 HIDDEN DANGERS OF POSTING CHILDREN'S PICTURES ONLINE
1️⃣ AI-generated abuse: Images can be manipulated using AI to create fake, sexualised pictures of children.
2️⃣ Predatory behaviour: People with harmful intentions may collect children's photographs for exploitative purposes.
3️⃣ Loss of privacy: Your child cannot fully control who sees, saves, or shares their image.
4️⃣ Location exposure: School signs, uniforms, and landmarks may reveal where a child studies or spends time.
5️⃣ Digital impersonation: Stolen photographs can be used to create fake accounts or impersonate a child.
6️⃣ Identity theft: Names, birthdays, and other personal details can help criminals build a profile of your child.
7️⃣ Bullying and humiliation: Pictures shared today may be copied, altered, or used to embarrass a child later.
8️⃣ Unwanted redistribution: A photograph shared with friends can travel far beyond your intended audience.
9️⃣ Family-targeted scams: Publicly available details can help criminals create convincing stories to deceive relatives.
🔟 A digital footprint without consent: Your child may grow up discovering that intimate or embarrassing moments were published before they could understand or agree to them.
🛡️ WHAT SHOULD WE DO INSTEAD?
✅ Make children's privacy the default. Choose not to publish identifiable pictures of them on public social media.
✅ Never post n**e, bathing, diaper-only, or otherwise intimate images of children.
✅ Share family memories privately with trusted relatives when appropriate, while remembering that private messages can also be copied or forwarded.
✅ Keep children's school details, addresses, routines, and live locations off public posts.
✅ Ask parents for permission before sharing pictures of their children. As children grow, listen to their wishes and respect their right to say no.
DEAR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS:
Your child is not content.
Your grandchild is not a social media accessory.
Their childhood is not an opportunity to collect likes, comments, and followers.
Let children grow up with their privacy intact. When they are old enough to understand the implications, they should have a meaningful say in their digital identity.
You may see a cute picture. Someone else may see an opportunity to misuse it.
Let's choose protection over publicity.
A message from the Global Women in Digital Governance Initiative - GWDGI
BE MINDFUL. SHARE SMART. PROTECT CHILDREN.
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Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
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AZ Department of Child Safety
Child Online Africa
Child Online Safety Team
