Protecting Your Children’s Online Privacy at School: 6 Tips from a Blogging Mom

Having a child in this digital age is nothing easy. While our parents had plenty to worry about in raising us, they did not need to be concerned with protecting our online safety. There was no question about sharing our photos and information online, no social media release forms to sign at school, and no need to carefully monitor our online activities (mostly because none existed, depending on your age). Now, the world is drastically different and while I love the many benefits, convenience, and vast amount of information that’s readily accessible, I realize that as parents we need to be careful and well-prepared.

Since I began this blog and social media work, my husband and I made a conscious decision to protect our children’s safety to the best of our ability. That meant not sharing their names or images publicly. It’s been a little challenging and I’ve even missed paid opportunities, but we feel it’s important for protecting them. However, outside of my social media work, it’s been even more challenging to maintain my children’s online safety and protect them from the digital world. I didn’t realize how pretty much everywhere and anywhere they go, organizations and establishments want to take their photos and share them freely for their own social media use. It’s as if there’s one big disclaimer stating, “should you enter, your photo will be taken and shared,” something I don’t agree with, especially when it comes to my children.

Of all the places I felt would understand the need to protect children’s safety the most, my daughter’s school truly surprised me at their lack of preparation in respecting their students’ privacy. Sure, we signed a social media release form, stating we did not wish for our girl’s photo, name, or other identifying information to be shared on the school’s social media pages. However, this became complicated throughout the school year as my daughter participated in various activities. It became evident to my husband and I that the school was more concerned with sharing all the “great moments” on their public Facebook page than protecting children’s privacy. It is definitely a marketing tool for the school to show the public and especially, prospective families the school’s achievements and various programs. Though they never violated the terms of the social media release form we signed, the amount of student information shared and lack of social media policy was truly concerning for us and solidified that we are the only ones who can truly protect our children.

6 Tips for Protecting Your Children’s Online Privacy at School

Due to our personal experience in dealing with our daughter’s school and their social media practices, let me share a few tips with you on how you can better protect and ensure your children’s online privacy at school:

1. Research your children’s schools’ social media presence. Look into their various social media pages and the type of information they share. Do they attach children’s names (i.e., initials, first, first and last) to photos? Also look at how they monitor comments from parents/the public.
2. Ask for the school’s social media policy. Unfortunately, my daughter’s school has no formal social media policy, but I was able to find the county’s policy for staff and employees.
3. Discuss any concerns with the principal. We sat down with my daughter’s principal to a) better understand their social media process and b) voice our concerns.
4. Carefully read and sign the school’s social media release. At our daughter’s school, you only sign the social media release form if you DO NOT want your child’s information to be shared. If it’s not signed and in your child’s file, the school is able to share your child’s photo and perhaps, name. Be sure you request a release form and read over the school’s intent to decide what information you agree to release (or not).
5. Learn and be informed. Not knowing could cost you a lot. Set up your own social media accounts and learn how they work. You don’t have to be active on them if you don’t want, but try them first-hand so you can learn all you can about them. Also, read up on various social media sites to stay informed on what tools schools and your children may be using. Sites like domain.me (our sponsor) and Common Sense Media often have articles related to children’s online safety.
6. Talk with your child. One of the most important things you can do is talk with your child about your wishes, how to protect themselves further, and to inform you of the school’s day-to-day happenings. Your child is able to voice whether or not he/she wants to be in a photo and can constantly communicate with you or his/her teacher about any concerns with online safety.

I hope these ideas help you get a conversation started with your family regarding online safety and how we are all responsible for being aware and prepared. Only you know what’s best for your children and family, so it’s up to you to be informed, protect them, and ensure others respect your wishes. Our children deserve it!

What are some online safety concerns you have with your children?

All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami ™

This post was inspired and sponsored by Domain.ME, the provider of the personal URLs that end in .ME. As a company, they aim to promote thought leadership to the tech world.