By Richie Servello

As the new school year begins, excitement fills the air for parents and caregivers, while kids may feel a mix of emotions.

The Center for Child Justice, Blair County’s Children’s Advocacy Center, wants to remind everyone to exercise caution when sharing details about children on social media, especially on the first day of school.

While the first day of school is a milestone worth celebrating, it’s important to prioritize safety in your social media posts.

Those adorable chalkboards featuring your child’s name, age, teacher, and favorite things can unintentionally provide valuable information to predators, scammers and bullies. To keep your celebrations safe:

— Limit Personal Information: Avoid sharing identifying details such as teacher names, school names, and your child’s favorite activities.

— Neutral Backgrounds: Ensure that the background of your photos doesn’t reveal any location information, like addresses or landmarks.

— Selective Sharing: Take multiple pictures — some for social media and others for sharing privately with close family and friends through texts or direct messages.

Predators often gather and use personal information from social media to build profiles and establish relationships with children and families.

Despite what you believe about your privacy settings, sharing on social media can expose your information to a broader audience than intended.

Evidence in online exploitation investigations often includes first day of school posts with children’s information, photos in school uniforms, and related messages. By being mindful of what you share, you can help protect your children and family from potential harm.

If you have concerns that your child or teen has been contacted by potential predators online, contact your local authorities. If you have any questions or concerns, call the CAC at 814-201-2057 or to report suspected child abuse call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.

Richie Servello is program director for the CAC located in Altoona.