Police warn parents: back-to-school photos can expose kids to risk online

With students heading back to class, those first-day photos are back, too. But police say the tradition can unintentionally reveal sensitive details about your family.

For Emily Brownlee, posting was once a way to update relatives. Now she’s more cautious after learning how predators can scrape posts, use AI to alter images, and piece together clues about where children live and go to school. “There’s a lot of dangers that come with that,” she said.

Overland Park Police Officer John Lacey says he talks to parents every year about oversharing. His advice: don’t include a child’s full name; consider using initials. Skip the school name, teacher, grade, and team info. Turn off location services and avoid posting in real time from the bus stop or school entrance. “Some people just have too much information on there,” Lacey said.

Brownlee suggests masking faces with an emoji or sticker if you want to share widely — a tactic she noticed in posts from Mark Zuckerberg — and tightening privacy settings so only close friends and family can view albums.

Quick share-safe checklist: remove house numbers and license plates from the frame; delay posts until after drop-off; avoid geotags; crop out uniforms, ID badges, and classroom signs; review who can reshare your content.

Both Brownlee and Officer Lacey stress the goal isn’t to skip the tradition — it’s to do it safely. A few simple changes can keep memories alive without giving away more than you intend.

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