What Are the Dangers of Children's Pictures on Facebook?

Facebook allows users to set up privacy controls that limit who sees uploaded photos. Not using these settings or not being aware of changes to the privacy policies may make your kids' pics vulnerable. Online predators, Internet marketers who are looking to poach family photos for their own commercial use and even other kids can take advantage of your seemingly innocent sharing.

  1. The Posting Problem

    • If you regularly post pictures of your kids on Facebook, but are starting to second-guess yourself, you aren't alone. The website Posterista surveyed parents in the United Kingdom on their social media photography sharing habits. Sixty-four percent of parents added photos to social media sites such as Facebook, according to "Time" magazine. Unlike generations past, contemporary kids are growing up in front of a global audience. While kiddie pics in the pre-Facebook generations may have been for the immediate family's eyes only, posting on Facebook may mean that modern-day children are on display for everyone to see.

    Predators and Pedophiles

    • While posting a sweet picture of your child in her Easter best isn't exactly akin to child pornography, it can entice a pedophile. Although there are online predators that actively seek out connections with kids as a way to facilitate face-to-face meetings, some pedophiles stick to collecting and trading photos of children, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Leaving your privacy settings open for anyone to view your Facebook news feed -- or not making yourself aware of them -- allows anyone to see and download photos of your child. Pedophiles may print and keep these photos, or use your other openly available information to seek them out.

    Internet Ads

    • You click on an ad or visit a website for a child's product and suddenly you see a picture of your kids. You don't recall agreeing to a photo shoot with the advertiser, signing a release or getting paid for the use of your child's image. Stealing your child's image for marketing purposes is a growing danger when it comes to sharing pictures on Facebook. Although this isn't legal, it still doesn't stop a business or other organization from downloading your unprotected pictures and using them free of charge instead of paying real child models for their work.

    Embarrassment Factor

    • Adding those adorable photos of your now 10-year-old in her diaper, covered in spaghetti, may seem like a cute way to add to your "Throw Back Thursday" posts, but what happens when her friends see them? Even if your photo privacy settings are set so that only your friends can see the pictures, think about who is on your list. If your Facebook friends include your child's classmate's parents, it's possible that her peers are getting a prime view of embarrassing images. When she gets to school she may suffer taunting and teasing as a result of this public share.

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