As children across the Hibiscus Coast prepare to return to school, police are reminding parents and caregivers to be mindful of their online privacy when sharing back-to-school photos, citing concerns raised in a recent public advisory statement.

Many families mark the first day of school with photos posted to social media.

However, authorities warn that these images can sometimes reveal personal details that may put children at risk.

“While it’s rare for police in New Zealand to receive reports of children being located through social media photos, we know from international cases that it does happen,” a police spokesperson said.

Parents are encouraged to review their social media privacy settings and consider what personal details their posts might reveal.

Uniform logos, school buildings, street signs, and even location settings on apps can inadvertently disclose sensitive information.

To help safeguard children’s privacy, police recommend the following precautions:

• Avoid posting images with identifiable school logos, street signs, or home addresses.
• Adjust privacy settings on social media platforms to limit who can view photos.
• Disable location tracking on apps before posting.
• Keep children’s full names, ages, and school details private.
• Report any suspicious online behaviour to authorities.

Police acknowledge that sharing milestone moments is an important tradition for many families.

However, they urge the community to take simple steps to ensure children’s safety online.

For concerns about online safety, reports can be made to New Zealand Police by calling 105 for non-emergencies or 111 in urgent situations.

Netsafe also offers support and advice via their toll-free helpline at 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723) or online at netsafe.org.nz

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