GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Many parents share photos and videos of their children on social media.
However, oversharing back-to-school photos this year could leave a long-lasting digital footprint for your kids.
Social media expert Chris McKenna, who is the founder of Protect Young Eyes, said no matter the intent of why you're posting, there are some things parents should keep in mind before they share online.
"Who is that share really for? Is it for the benefit of children, or is it for your benefit as a parent?" asked McKenna.
Parenting in a digital age is an ever-changing, high-stakes gig. That's why McKenna said a back-to-school social media tradition could be putting your child's identity at risk.
"It's never been easier to take somebody and to take their information, to take little bits and to know as much about somebody. So parents need to almost not share anything about their kids online. You are establishing a digital footprint for your kids," said McKenna.
As students return to school, McKenna said parents sharing their children's photos online have skyrocketed.
However, amid all the posts, McKenna said parents should make sure their motivations are in the right spot.
"I think as parents, we need to check our own egos, our own desire to rank, to be noticed, to be known by those around us, by sharing our beautifully uniform-clad little children on the stoop of our house as they head off on their first day of school," said McKenna.
He also warned against sharing personal details about your child that could have long-lasting effects.
"When your child is 20 years old someday, are they going to look back and love all that you shared about them when they were seven with a bunch of people on social media?" asked McKenna.
If you do end up posting your children this school year, he said it's important for parents to double-check their privacy settings, watch out for phony friend requests and be aware of who can see their post.
"So yes, it can be misused by maybe others, like kids who might see it later on, in a bullying situation. I think beyond that, as we tell kids, once it's out there, you lose total control of it. Evaluate that, scrub your contacts, scrub your followers, scrub your friends, so that you are truly only sharing with those who you want to be sharing with," said McKenna.