WHY IT MATTERS
Repeatedly sharing where children go and when they go there can allow strangers to piece together patterns about their lives. Individually harmless pieces of information can become much more revealing when combined.
1. NEVER SHARE REAL-TIME LOCATIONS
Posting while the child is still somewhere can reveal their current whereabouts.
2. KEEP SCHOOLS PRIVATE
Uniforms, signs and recognisable buildings can identify a child’s school.
3. DON’T PUBLISH ROUTINES
Regular school runs, clubs and activities create predictable patterns.
4. WATCH THE BACKGROUND
House numbers, street names and recognisable landmarks can reveal locations.
5. CHECK LOCATION SETTINGS
Phones and social platforms can attach location information to content.
6. DELAY TRAVEL CONTENT
Publishing after leaving a location reduces real-time exposure.
7. PROTECT THE HOME
Vlogs can inadvertently reveal where children live and how the property is accessed.
8. AVOID LIVE CHECK-INS
Tagging restaurants, attractions or hotels can reveal where the family currently is.
9. TEACH CHILDREN LOCATION PRIVACY
Children should understand why addresses, schools and routines shouldn’t be given to strangers.
10. REVIEW OLD CONTENT
Years of uploads can collectively reveal far more than any individual video.
BOTTOM LINE
Small location clues can combine into a surprisingly detailed map of a child’s life.