August 2026

While I understand the concept behind proud parents and grandparents wanting to share the accomplishments of their children and grandchildren with family and friends, the manner in which they go about doing it deeply concerns me.

Each and every time you post something on social media, you have to choose who can see your updates. Do you really want the ENTIRE WORLD to see the information you are broadcasting about your children?

Every August and September, as the school year starts, my feed is flooded with photos. But people aren’t just posting pictures of their kids smiling on the front porch. They are flashing cutesy little chalkboard signs that broadcast a predator’s roadmap:

• Their children’s full names
• The exact school they attend and what grade they are entering
• Their exact birth dates
• Their favorite hobbies, after-school activities, and sports jersey numbers

Those cutesy signs make me absolutely furious!

People who have never faced a predator’s threat think it’s just harmless, innocent sharing. They don’t think it could ever happen to them. But I know firsthand that the world is full of creeps and predators. I know how quickly a life can change, and I know exactly how vital it is to guard your children with everything you have.

With kids heading back to school, go ahead and post those sweet milestone photos. But skip the signs. Leave off the school names, the bus numbers, the ages, and the identifiers. Don’t hand a stranger the exact keys they need to manipulate or track your child.

In a world full of dangers, keep your kids safe. (See Tips below)

🛡️ Protect Your Child’s Digital Footprint: Actions for Today

• Audit Your Privacy Settings: Go into your Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts right now. Ensure your posts are set strictly to “Friends Only” rather than “Public.”
• Declutter Friend Lists: Purge acquaintances, old coworkers, or people you do not know personally from your social media circles. Predators frequently use casual connections to gain access to family photos.
• The “Front Porch” Rule: If you wouldn’t print your child’s name, school, and schedule on a giant poster and tape it to your front door for every passing stranger to read, do not put it online.
• Turn Off Location Tags: Ensure your smartphone camera settings have “Location Services” or GPS geotagging disabled for photos so your images don’t secretly broadcast your coordinates.

📞 Essential Safety Resources

If you ever suspect a child is in danger or being actively tracked online, do not hesitate. Contact these National Lifelines immediately:

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): Report sightings, online exploitation, or suspicious cyber-behavior.
  • Call: 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
  • Online Cyber-Tipline: report.cybertip.org
• Child help National Child Abuse Hotline: Dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Professional counselors provide crisis intervention and resource referrals 24/7.
  • Call or Text: 1-800-422-4453

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