Children pictures on the netThis is what parents should consider on vacation

For many families, the vacation season begins now. Often parents share the beautiful moments with their children at the beach or pool online. Caution is advised here! Children have the right to their own image and privacy. In addition, supposedly harmless pictures of children can be misused for sexual purposes. We provide tips on which aspects parents need to be aware of and how they can protect their children.

Info image on the topic "Children's pictures on the net: Can I share the picture online?" 1. have I clarified the rights to the picture? 2. does my child agree to the sharing? 3. is my child dressed in the picture and not in an embarrassing situation? 4. have I checked my privacy settings and know who can see the picture?

The phenomenon of parents making their children's pictures publicly available has come to be known as "sharenting. It is made up of the English word "parenting" and the verb "to share. Parents share everyday photos of their children on social networks. They want to share the beautiful, funny or grotesque moments of family life with others. However, they often neglect the child's perspective.

What do children think about their pictures on the web?

What is funny for adults can be embarrassing and shameful for children. And if not immediately, then possibly at a later date. Depending on where the images were published on the web, they may still be accessible years or even decades later.

The German Children's Fund investigated the phenomenon of "sharenting" in a study. It found that children have a very clear sense of when they agree to pictures or videos being published. Parents' and children's criteria for evaluating an image can differ greatly. Children often find images problematic that adults consider harmless. The study concludes "[...] that, as a rule, children would disclose significantly fewer images than their parents."

What can parents do to protect their children?

klicksafe offers with "Too naked for the internet?-10 steps for more safety when dealing with children's photos online". Parents can use it to easily check whether they have considered all the important aspects. The info card also encourages children to be actively involved in the decision-making process and to consider the perspective of the children depicted.

Other problematic consequences of publicly available images of children

  • As jugendschutz.net reports, supposedly harmless pictures of children, for example of babies in diapers or children in swimwear, are misused for sexual purposes. Perpetrators with a sexual interest in children specifically search for such images on the Internet in order to disseminate them in pedosexual networks.
  • In the context of cyberbullying, photos published on the Internet can be used by perpetrators to harm children. Understandably, children do not want to be confronted with embarrassing images of themselves. Caution: Even supposedly harmless pictures can expose the people in the picture through post-processing or a changed context.
  • In order for children to be protected from sexual violence and boundary violations, they must first know their own boundaries and rights. It is therefore essential that they are made aware, especially by those they trust, that they have a say when it comes to their private sphere. Children who have been sensitized in this way are better able to notice and report boundary violations in dangerous situations.