Police share grim back to school warningFederal Police have urged parents to think twice about posting their little one's first day at school online for a very scary reason.Dominique Birousteless than 2 min readJanuary 22, 2024 - 9:10PMPrimary SchoolDon't miss out on the headlines from Primary School. Followed categories will be added to My News.First steps, first words, first day ofschool.When you have a camera in your pocket or handbag every day, it becomes second nature to whip out your phone to capture your kids’milestones.However, with the advancements in technology andsocial media, this second nature also comes with added risk.Want to join the family? Sign up to ourKidspot newsletterfor more stories like this.A police warningAustralian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider has warned parents about thinking twice before posting their child’s first day of school online."We have seen instances of otherwise innocent images being used in child exploitation material or offenders using information from photos, such as school uniforms, to identify and groom children," Schneider advised."While these incidents are rare, they do happen, which is why we are urging families to be proactive with online safety and keep their information safe as the 2024 school year gets underway."RELATED:Parents furious after babysitter posts photos of their kidsA scary pictureIn the ever-expanding realm of online dangers, theWe Protect Global Alliance's2023 Global Threat Assessment paints a grim picture of escalating child sexual exploitation and abuse.Shockingly, it reported cases of child sexual abuse material have surged by 87% since 2019, and up to 20% of children in select countries have fallen prey to online exploitation.As emerging technologies like generative AI and eXtended Reality introduce new threats, issues such as financial sexual extortion and AI-generated abuse imagery are on the rise.Online grooming, with an 80% increase, continues to haunt us, and livestreaming child sexual abuse remains a global legal challenge.Perpetrators employ various tactics, including link-sharing and the use of private environments with end-to-end encryption, making detection an uphill battle.Are your social media accounts set to private? Source: iStockA helpful tipWith image editing apps and programs like Canva so easily accessible, Schneider recommended that parents edit their photos before hitting post."Parents can also easily edit the logos of their children's uniforms to conceal where they attend school as an extra precaution."More Coverage‘TikTok ruined my 12yo’s life - I’m suing the app’Alexandra FeiamExperts fight against online sex ed misinformationEleanor CampbellOriginally published asPolice share grim back to school warningMore related storiesPrimary School‘A teacher punished my kid brutally as though it’s 1925’EXCLUSIVE: A Melbourne mum shares the "old fashioned and cruel" consequence given to her son.Read moreParenting‘You deal with them’: The messy lunchbox item teachers hate“I don’t really wear nice things anymore because of these.”Read more