Inspired by Dislifer; "Why do you post your child's picture on the internet?"

[DawnCt1]

On the Santa thread, a poster, Dislifer asked that question, seemingly to opine that it was a bad idea for safety reasons. The picture is of a beautiful little girl on vacation with her parents in Cancun, I believe. I didn't scroll back to look.
I have absolutely no problem with that. Have we gotton so suspicious and paranoid to think that a picture on the internet will lead to disaster? If that were the case, no child's picture would be in a catalog, a Sunday news paper ad, on television for a comercial or in a middle school or high school year book where the true identity, town, etc is listed. It would be nearly impossible for someone to "track down" anyone unless that person wanted to be deliberately identified. Have we gotton too paranoid?

 

[bicker]

I generally have kept my feelings to myself on this matter, but it is an important issue. My family has been a victim of online abuse of photos of the children in our family. I won't go into details. All I will say is that I won't put photos of the young children in our family anywhere where strangers can find them, and I soundly, and as forcefully as I can, recommend that no one do so. Pictures of children should be shared in a forum that is accessible by close family members only, and even then, only those who are as conscientious about keeping such images safe as we are. One crime that is attributable to poor security over such photos is one too many.

 

[DawnCt1]

Bicker, While I can certainly understand that an awful experience would form your opinion, couldn't the same abuse occur with any picture of any child anywhere? If your identity, location, etc isn't easily accessible, is it really risking a physical danger to a child? I am not discounting your experience, just trying to understand the scenario in which it could be a danger.

 

[daisyduck123]

Hmmmm, interesting. When I first started coming to this Disboard, the first time my DH saw me visiting this site, he leaned over my shoulder looking at the posts & all he said was "I don't want any pictures of our kids posted online"....for these same reasons.

 

[Pinnie]

I would NEVER post a picture of my child on a public forum. Call me old fashioned, but you never know WHO is lurking on any forum, Disney or not.

pinnie

 

[Mugg Mann]

Dawn, about a month-six weeks ago, there was a thread that has since been removed from the board. In that thread, the OP had made a statement designed to provoke people, and when they responded, he told one of the respondents that he was a policeman who believed in enforcing "God's law" instead of American law. He also said that he was able to track them down because of the picture of their family that the respondent had posted in their signature coupled with the location.

I wanted to find the post again to show you, but frankly, I'm glad it was removed. Most people are reasonable and sane, and I'd love to show off my family. I'm very proud of them. But I love them too much to take even the miniscule chance of someone like that poster making good on his irrationality.

 

[aprilgail2]

I generally have kept my feelings to myself on this matter, but it is an important issue. My family has been a victim of online abuse of photos of the children in our family. I won't go into details. All I will say is that I won't put photos of the young children in our family anywhere where strangers can find them, and I soundly, and as forcefully as I can, recommend that no one do so. Pictures of children should be shared in a forum that is accessible by close family members only, and even then, only those who are as conscientious about keeping such images safe as we are. One crime that is attributable to poor security over such photos is one too many.

No matter how you protect your kids pics people can still get pics of your kids...they can take them in a public park or any other place and post them..nothing you can do about it...

 

[Laura]

If the poster has never said where they lived or given identifying information, then no, you can't really find them and it isn't any different than a newspaper ad of children's clothing. But so many people on the DIS have their city, state, birthdate, job title, and family photo album URL displayed in signatures and in their personal information. Not to mention people might post revealing things about themselves, tell everyone when they're going to WDW, etc.

My username is my first name. All I have to do is reveal my birthdate and my city and I CAN be found if someone really wants to do harm to me. Or I can reveal info about my husband and where he works (that information is out on the internet). There's a lot of public information that can be accessed on the internet.

So I would caution people not to give out too much info about themselves.

 

[disney4us2002]

Well, since my kids are included, I suppose I'm either naive or uncaring - right?

I'm wondering what "God's law" refers to and how posting my kids photo and finding us are related to him enforcing "God's law". I understand what Bicker is saying as far as someone could take my picture and photoshop it into something ugly but then what? How is that a threat to my kids' physical being? No, I don't want that to happen but again how is it dangerous?

Along these lines I did have a discussion with my oldest who has a page on My Space, which is apparently very common with the teens around here. We discussed that either his friends trying to be funny or perhaps someone with a bone to pick could hijack a photo of his and turn it into something embarassing and email it around. He went ahead with the site and so far, so good. I do read his log from time to time.

 

[va32h]

In that thread, the OP had made a statement designed to provoke people, and when they responded, he told one of the respondents that he was a policeman who believed in enforcing "God's law" instead of American law. He also said that he was able to track them down because of the picture of their family that the respondent had posted in their signature coupled with the location.

And because this guy said it, it's true? How do you know he was even a cop?

I'll say what I said in the other thread. Why should a pedophile go to the trouble of tracking down a child online, when he could simply stroll down the street and find one to molest.

The only "horrible stories" about the internet and children actually being assaulted are instances where the molester has started a dialogue in a chat room or via email.

I have yet to read one article in which a child was assaulted because their parent posted their picture on a discussion board, and the pedophile tracked them down as a result.

And even if I did find such an article - I would still put it in perspective.

Every single time you allow anyone to see your child, you run the risk that person may be a pedophile.

Taking them to the grocery store, putting them in school, in scouting, in sports, letting them outside in your yard, taking them to the mall, McDonalds, Disney World.

What is to stop some pervert from seeing your child at WDW, and following you back to your resort and kidnapping your child then?

So...we can lock up our children, or weigh the risks of virtually any activity, and make the choices we feel are appropriate.

If you don't want to post a picture of your child - fine, good for you. Your choice is not what everyone else should do.

And to show I put my money where my mouth is; these are mine:

Edited to add: another point - how do you know this picture is current? Or any other picture of a child you see on the net. The picture I posted above is from a previous Christmas. All three children look at least a little different today, and one of them looks quite a bit different.

For all you (or the pedophile knows) a child's picture on the internet was taken a day ago or ten years ago.

 

[janice1234]

i also was on the santa thread, the woman who posted her daughters picture was really bashed. my god it was a very cute picture of her daughter and someone felt the need to bash her for no apparent reason. i understand you can access any info you want online, but come on opinions need to be brought about in a friendlier way.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I do posts pics of my kids. But kids are in danger anywhere, the mall, parks. Are these the same people who won't post pics of their kids on the internet, but have countdown timers when they are leaving to go on vacation? Now that would make me more paranoid!

 

[6_Time_Momma]

I sincerely don't see the danger in it either. My DH feels differently. But, I personally don't see posting an internet picture as any different than allowing it in a yearbook, newspaper, etc.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm reluctant to post my own photo here, (and never would put it in a sig) and it's not entirely because I'm not photogenic. If I had children, no way would their photos be up on a public message board.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am uncomfortable with posting private info as well, such as pic's, timers, etc...But that is just me. People are free to do as they wish and I don't care.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I generally have kept my feelings to myself on this matter, but it is an important issue. My family has been a victim of online abuse of photos of the children in our family. I won't go into details. All I will say is that I won't put photos of the young children in our family anywhere where strangers can find them, and I soundly, and as forcefully as I can, recommend that no one do so. Pictures of children should be shared in a forum that is accessible by close family members only, and even then, only those who are as conscientious about keeping such images safe as we are. One crime that is attributable to poor security over such photos is one too many.

My niece went through the same thing. Her picture was in the newspaper. She went through an ordeal. I will protect my children anyway I can.

Lori

 

[marlasmom]

Not here but on a somewhat related board and not a child, but someone copied a picture from a totally non-related site and posted it on her board and then make it look very ugly. That individual has bragged about visiting porn sites and there was (and is) concern that my friend's photo would end up on a porn site.

 

[DawnCt1]

i also was on the santa thread, the woman who posted her daughters picture was really bashed. my god it was a very cute picture of her daughter and someone felt the need to bash her for no apparent reason. i understand you can access any info you want online, but come on opinions need to be brought about in a friendlier way.

That was my feeling too.

 

[DawnCt1]

My niece went through the same thing. Her picture was in the newspaper. She went through an ordeal. I will protect my children anyway I can.

Lori

Your niece's picture in the paper was more revealing of her identity because probably included, in some part, name, age, town or perhaps all three. I am just having difficulty understanding how there is a risk from posting an annonymous picture. All of the children posted on these boards are adorable but if I walked past any of them on the street, I would never make the connection, "oh yeah, that's "so and so's" daughter from the Disboards", except maybe FeralPeg, because I know she will show up in the movies some day.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've never posted pictures of my kids, but only because I can't figure out how to.

I think that a person has to use common sense in general. I have a cute picture of my kittens, but even if I could figure out how to post it I wouldn't because their ID tags are visible and a person could blow up the picture and figure out my address.

It's true that a person could take pictures of children most anywhere, so I'm not worried about posting pictures of my children as long as I don't give out too much information about them. IE, I wouldn't publically post what school they go to.

But I also don't give out personal information to people in person in a public place. I'm amazed at the things that people say to others (whether it's a friend or stranger) in a public place. I've been at the grocery store in line to check out and have heard all kinds of details about vacation dates, etc. If someone wants all they'd have to do is take a quick glance at their credit card or check and then look online for their address.