BBB warns parents about posting too much information about their children through back-to-school photos

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — It’s that time of year. There is a moment of celebration when you, as a proud parent, send your child onto their next milestone: a new school year.

Many want to hold onto that moment, normally with a photo. However, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) wants you to be wary about where you post it. News 2 spoke with the Vice President of Marketing Engagement for the BBB serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky Lorneth Peters about best practices.

“We love sharing back-to-school photos of our kids, I’m included in that,” Peters said. “But we must always remember that scammers are opportunists. They always take advantage of timely things.”

Those seemingly joyful back-to-school photos are sometimes filled with information that scammers are looking out for.

“The child’s age, the school they attend, their height, their favorite foods,” Peters explained. “Why? Because scammers understand the more they know about you, the more they can utilize your identity. And if it’s not your identity they’re taking advantage of, [then] your child’s identity.”

The BBB and law enforcement across the U.S. have been spreading helpful tips for parents ahead of the first day. They caution against including details like age, the name of a school and the name of a child’s teacher.

However, that doesn’t mean parents can’t celebrate at all. Signs that show a favorite subject, a fun generic fact, or even a goal for the future, are encouraged.

“You know, social media gives us an opportunity to connect with our family members and friends, but it’s also open to many other individuals,” Peters said. “We always encourage parents, and everyone in general, to always be mindful of the information you include.”

Peters added that the background of a photo could expose too much information.

“It’s great to share pictures, but don’t share a picture of your house righ, with the number of your house on there,” Peters said. “Share generic backgrounds. For example, you can stand your child next to a tree.”

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