Why You Should Rethink Posting Photos Of Your Children On Social Media | TODAY
Summary
TLDRThe video script addresses the alarming issue of 'digital kidnapping', where predators exploit social media to track and exploit children. It highlights how parents unknowingly share photos and personal information of their children online, which can be used by bad actors to locate and potentially harm them. The segment features a cyber security expert demonstrating how easily one can gather detailed information about a family from their social media posts. The reporter emphasizes the importance of privacy settings, suggesting making profiles private, categorizing friends for safety, and turning off location features in phone settings to protect children's information. It serves as a wake-up call for parents to be more vigilant about their online activities and to regularly review and clean up their social media connections.
Takeaways
- 🚨 Digital kidnapping is a serious threat where predators use social media to track and exploit children.
- 👀 Parents often unknowingly share photos and information about their children, which can be used maliciously.
- 📍 Photos can contain hidden location data, even without explicit geotagging, that can reveal where you and your children are.
- 🔒 To protect your family, adjust privacy settings on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to limit who can see your posts.
- 🛡️ Creating separate friend groups on Facebook and only sharing children's photos with trusted contacts can add an extra layer of security.
- 📱 Ensure the location services are turned off for your camera on your phone to prevent location data from being embedded in photos.
- 👪 Avoid using your children's photos in profile or cover photos, as these are always public on social media platforms.
- 🧐 Be cautious about the information you share online, as it can be pieced together by strangers to create a detailed profile of your family.
- 🤔 Regularly review and clean up your social media friends list to remove any contacts you're not close with or no longer wish to connect with.
- ⏰ Use periodic reminders, such as changing clocks for daylight saving time, to review your social media and phone settings for privacy.
- 👀 Awareness is key – understand the risks associated with oversharing on social media and take proactive steps to safeguard your family's information.
Q & A
What is the phenomenon being discussed in the transcript?
-The phenomenon being discussed is 'Digital Kidnapping,' which refers to the misuse of children's photos and personal information posted online by parents, potentially putting their safety at risk.
Why are experts issuing an alert about social media posts?
-Experts are issuing an alert because bad actors are using social media posts to track children, steal their photos, and spread them online, sometimes for nefarious purposes.
What is the simple setting change recommended for protecting one's family on social media platforms?
-The recommended setting change is to make your profile private on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, and to adjust the privacy settings to 'Friends Only' to limit the audience of your posts.
How can a hidden location signature in photos pose a risk?
-A hidden location signature, or metadata, in photos can reveal where the photo was taken, even if the location isn't explicitly tagged. This can allow anyone, including potential predators, to find out where you and your children are.
What information was discovered about Michelle and Reese's family by the cyber security expert?
-The cyber security expert discovered the names of Michelle and Reese's children, their ages, dates of birth, the school they attend, the address of the school, the teacher's name, the playgrounds they visit, and the frequency of their visits.
What is the potential danger of sharing detailed personal information on social media?
-Sharing detailed personal information on social media can allow strangers to impersonate family members or friends, potentially gaining the trust of a child and leading to dangerous situations.
How can parents categorize their friends on Facebook for better privacy control?
-Parents can categorize their friends on Facebook by creating separate friend lists or groups, and then adjust their privacy settings to share their children's photos only with trusted individuals in these groups.
Why is it advised to turn off the location function on the camera setting of your phone?
-Turning off the location function on the camera setting prevents the embedding of GPS data into photos, which could otherwise reveal the location where the photo was taken and potentially compromise privacy and safety.
Why should you avoid putting your kids in your profile or cover photo on social media?
-Profile and cover photos are always public, which means anyone can see them, including potential predators. It's safer to keep children's images out of these highly visible areas of a social media account.
What is the suggestion for using the biannual clock change as a reminder?
-Experts suggest using the biannual clock change as a reminder to review and clean up your social media friends list, deleting anyone you're not close to or no longer friends with, to reduce the risk of information falling into the wrong hands.
What is the term used to describe the act of predators stealing children's photos and personal information from social media?
-The term used is 'Digital Kidnapping,' which highlights the serious nature of this online threat where personal information is misused to exploit or deceive.
Outlines
📸 Social Media and Digital Kidnapping
Jeff Rossen discusses the risks of sharing children's photos on social media, a phenomenon known as 'digital kidnapping.' The segment covers how predators exploit publicly available images and information to track and potentially harm children. It emphasizes the importance of being cautious about what is posted online and provides tips for protecting privacy, such as changing phone settings to remove location signatures from photos and adjusting social media privacy settings to limit the audience of posts.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Digital Kidnapping
💡Social Media
💡Location Signature
💡Cyber Security Expert
💡Privacy Settings
💡Online Predator
💡Profile Photo
💡Camera Setting
💡Public vs. Private
💡Friends Only
💡Cybersecurity
Highlights
Jeff Rossen discusses the phenomenon of 'Digital Kidnapping', where predators use social media posts to track children.
Experts warn that sharing photos of children online can put them at risk from bad actors.
Simple phone settings can help protect families from having their children's locations discovered through photos.
Parents are often unaware of the risks associated with sharing their children's lives on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
A stranger can claim a child as their own by stealing photos and spreading them online.
In one case, a child's photo was found tagged on a porn site, highlighting the severity of digital kidnapping.
Most people unknowingly put their families at risk by oversharing on social media.
Reporter Michelle and Reese were unaware of the private information found on their social media by a cyber security expert.
The expert, Jesse Weinberger, was able to gather detailed information about the family, including names, ages, school, and routines.
Photos can contain a hidden location signature, even without explicit geotagging.
Predators can use this information to approach children, posing as someone they know.
Michelle and Reese were shocked by the extent of information a cyber security expert was able to compile about their children.
The reporter emphasizes the importance of not setting children up for dangerous situations through oversharing.
Making profiles private on Instagram and changing settings to 'Friends Only' on Facebook can help protect children's information.
Creating separate friend groups on Facebook and only sharing children's photos with trusted individuals is advised.
Turning off the location function in phone camera settings prevents embedded location signatures in photos.
Avoid using children's photos in profile or cover photos, as these are always public.
Experts recommend periodically reviewing and cleaning up social media friend lists to remove non-friends.
Transcripts
JEFF ROSSEN IS HERE TO HAVE EVERYBODY RETHINKING THEIR USE
EVERYBODY RETHINKING THEIR USE
OF SOCIAL MEDIA. >> WE USE IT AS PARENTS.
>> WE USE IT AS PARENTS. THIS PHENOMENON IS CALLED
THIS PHENOMENON IS CALLED DIGITAL KIDNAPPING.
DIGITAL KIDNAPPING.
IT IS AS SCARY AS IT SOUNDS. WE LOVE TO TAKE PHOTOS OF OUR
WE LOVE TO TAKE PHOTOS OF OUR KIDS AND POST THEM.
KIDS AND POST THEM. ITS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP FRIENDS
ITS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP FRIENDS
AND FAMILY IN THE LOOP. NOW, EXPERTS ARE ISSUING AN
NOW, EXPERTS ARE ISSUING AN ALERT THAT BAD GUYS ARE USING
ALERT THAT BAD GUYS ARE USING
OUR POSTS AGAINST US TO TRACK OUR CHILDREN.INST US TO TRACK
OUR CHILDREN.
THIS MORNING, YOURE ABOUT TO SEE HOW THEY DO IT. ABOUT TO
SEE HOW THEY DO IT. PLUS, THE SIMPLE SETTING ON YOUR
PLUS, THE SIMPLE SETTING ON YOUR PHONE THAT YOU CAN CHANGE RIGHT
PHONE THAT YOU CAN CHANGE RIGHT NOW TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.
NOW TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY. FROM FACEBOOK.
FROM FACEBOOK. TO INSTAGRAM.
TO INSTAGRAM. PARENTS SHARING THEIR CHILDRENS
PARENTS SHARING THEIR CHILDRENS
LIVES ONLINE. BUT NOW, THE NEW WORLD CRIME,
BUT NOW, THE NEW WORLD CRIME, DIGITAL KIDNAPPING.
DIGITAL KIDNAPPING. PREDATORS STEALING YOUR KIDS
PREDATORS STEALING YOUR KIDS PHOTOS AND SPREADING THEM
PHOTOS AND SPREADING THEM ONLINE.
ONLINE.
THIS STRANGER CLAIMING THIS GIRL
THIS STRANGER CLAIMING THIS GIRL
WAS HIS DAUGHTER.
WAS HIS DAUGHTER.
IN ANOTHER RECENT CASE, A CHILDS PHOTO WAS TAGGED ON A
CHILDS PHOTO WAS TAGGED ON A PORN SITE.
PORN SITE.
TURNS OUT, MOST OF US ARE PUTTING OUR OWN FAMILIES AT
PUTTING OUR OWN FAMILIES AT RISK.
RISK.
AND WE HAVE NO IDEA. >> HAPPY THURSDAY.A.
>> HAPPY THURSDAY. >> Reporter: YOU POST ALL THE
>> Reporter: YOU POST ALL THE
TIME?
TIME?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
I LIKE TO POST ABOUT THE KIDS. >> Reporter: THATS MICHELLE AND
>> Reporter: THATS MICHELLE AND REESE.
REESE.
THEY THINK WERE DOING A GENERAL
THEY THINK WERE DOING A GENERAL
STORY ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. WITH WHAT THEY DONT KNOW, BACK
WITH WHAT THEY DONT KNOW, BACK IN OHIO, JESSE WEINBERGER IS
IN OHIO, JESSE WEINBERGER IS PORING OVER THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA
PORING OVER THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, CHECKING FOR PRIVATE
PAGES, CHECKING FOR PRIVATE INFORMATION.
INFORMATION.
WHAT DID YOU FIND HERE?
WHAT DID YOU FIND HERE?
>> I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT
>> I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT
HUSBANDS NAME, CHILDRENS NAME. SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN.ENS NAME.
SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN. I KNOW THEIR AGES AND DATES OF
I KNOW THEIR AGES AND DATES OF BIRTH.
BIRTH.
I KNOW WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL, THE ADDRESS OF THE SCHOOL, THE,
THE ADDRESS OF THE SCHOOL, THE TEACHER.
TEACHER.
I KNOW WHICH PLAYGROUNDS THEY
I KNOW WHICH PLAYGROUNDS THEY
VISIT.
VISIT.
HOW OFTEN THEY GO TO EACH
HOW OFTEN THEY GO TO EACH
PLAYGROUND.
PLAYGROUND.
>> Reporter: YOU WERE SHOWING ME
>> Reporter: YOU WERE SHOWING ME
A MATH OF THE PATH THEY TAKE TO SCHOOL.OF THE PATH THEY TAKE TO
SCHOOL.
>> IT WASNT HARD. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS OUR PHOTOS
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS OUR PHOTOS CAN HAVE A HIDDEN LOCATION
CAN HAVE A HIDDEN LOCATION SIGNATURE EMBEDDED IN THEM.
SIGNATURE EMBEDDED IN THEM. EVEN IF YOU DONT TAG THE
EVEN IF YOU DONT TAG THE LOCATION, ANYONE CAN STILL FIND
LOCATION, ANYONE CAN STILL FIND OUT WHERE YOU ARE.
OUT WHERE YOU ARE. WHATS THE DANGER HERE?
WHATS THE DANGER HERE? >> I KNOW THAT ONE OF HER
>> I KNOW THAT ONE OF HER CHILDREN BROKE HIS LEG.
CHILDREN BROKE HIS LEG. HOW EASY WOULD IT FOR ME TO BE,
HOW EASY WOULD IT FOR ME TO BE, YOU DONT REMEMBER ME, BUT I WAS
YOU DONT REMEMBER ME, BUT I WAS THE NURSE WHEN YOU CAME TO THE
THE NURSE WHEN YOU CAME TO THE EMERGENCY
EMERGENCY EMERGENCY ROOM, HOW IS YOUR LEG
EMERGENCY ROOM, HOW IS YOUR LEG FEELING?
FEELING?
>> Reporter: COME WITH ME. TIME FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
TIME FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. I TELL MICHELLE AND REESE WHAT
I TELL MICHELLE AND REESE WHAT WE UNCOVERED.
WE UNCOVERED. WE HAD A CYBER SECURITY EXPERT
WE HAD A CYBER SECURITY EXPERT PORE THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
PORE THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.
PAGES.
SHE PUT TOGETHER A DOSSIER ON YOUR CHILDREN.ER A DOSSIER ON
YOUR CHILDREN.
I KNOW YOUR TWO SONS ARE OXFORD AND OZARK.R TWO SONS ARE OXFORD
AND OZARK.
I KNOW WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL.
I KNOW WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL.
I KNOW YOUR ROUTE TO SCHOOL.
I KNOW YOUR ROUTE TO SCHOOL.
>> THATS SCARY. >> Reporter: I KNOW YOUR SON
>> Reporter: I KNOW YOUR SON LIKES TO PLAY CHESS.
LIKES TO PLAY CHESS. HES PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH
HES PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH WRESTLING.
WRESTLING.
I KNOW YOUR KIDS BABYSITTERS
I KNOW YOUR KIDS BABYSITTERS
NAMES.
NAMES.
WHO IS GRAMMY B.?
WHO IS GRAMMY B.?
>> THATS MY MOM.
>> THATS MY MOM.
>> Reporter: THINK ABOUT THE
>> Reporter: THINK ABOUT THE
INFORMATION THAT I JUST SAID SO
INFORMATION THAT I JUST SAID SO
FAR.
FAR.
IF THIS WERE A BAD PERSON, AN
IF THIS WERE A BAD PERSON, AN
ONLINE PREDATOR, I KNOW WHERE
ONLINE PREDATOR, I KNOW WHERE
YOUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.
YOUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.
I CAN SAY, GRAMMY B. SENT ME.
I CAN SAY, GRAMMY B. SENT ME.
AND SUDDENLY, THEY CAN GET AWAY
AND SUDDENLY, THEY CAN GET AWAY
WITH YOUR CHILD.
WITH YOUR CHILD.
>> YOU DONT WANT TO SET YOUR
>> YOU DONT WANT TO SET YOUR
CHILD UP FOR SOMETHING
CHILD UP FOR SOMETHING
DANGEROUS.
DANGEROUS.
>> Reporter: WE DONT REALIZE
>> Reporter: WE DONT REALIZE
IT.
IT.
IM A PARENT, TOO, AND I DO THE
IM A PARENT, TOO, AND I DO THE
SAME THING.
SAME THING.
I THINK WE ALL DO.
I THINK WE ALL DO.
>> ITS VERY SCARY.
>> ITS VERY SCARY.
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR FAMILY? HOW DO YOU PROTECT
YOUR FAMILY? ON INSTAGRAM, MAKE YOUR PROFILE
ON INSTAGRAM, MAKE YOUR PROFILE PRIVATE, LIKE THAT.
PRIVATE, LIKE THAT. AND ON FACEBOOK, CLICK ON
AND ON FACEBOOK, CLICK ON SETTINGS AND PRIVACY AND CHANGE
SETTINGS AND PRIVACY AND CHANGE RIGHT HERE, FROM PUBLIC TO
RIGHT HERE, FROM PUBLIC TO FRIENDS ONLY.
FRIENDS ONLY. AND GO A STEP FURTHER.
AND GO A STEP FURTHER. ON FACEBOOK, CATEGORIZE YOUR
ON FACEBOOK, CATEGORIZE YOUR FRIENDS IN TERMS OF SAFETY.
FRIENDS IN TERMS OF SAFETY. MAKE SEPARATE GROUPS.
MAKE SEPARATE GROUPS. AND WHEN YOU POST, ONLY SHARE
AND WHEN YOU POST, ONLY SHARE YOUR KIDS PHOTOS WITH THEM.
YOUR KIDS PHOTOS WITH THEM. AND REMEMBER THE HIDDEN LOCATION
AND REMEMBER THE HIDDEN LOCATION FEATURE, GO TO YOUR PHONES
FEATURE, GO TO YOUR PHONES PRIVACY SETTINGS AND MAKE SURE
PRIVACY SETTINGS AND MAKE SURE THE LOCATION FUNCTION IS OFF ON
THE LOCATION FUNCTION IS OFF ON THE CAMERA SETTING.
THE CAMERA SETTING. ALSO, NEVER PUT YOUR KIDS IN
ALSO, NEVER PUT YOUR KIDS IN YOUR PROFILE OR COVER PHOTO.
YOUR PROFILE OR COVER PHOTO. THOSE ARE ALWAYS PUBLIC.
THOSE ARE ALWAYS PUBLIC. >> ITS A REALLY GOOD REMINDER
>> ITS A REALLY GOOD REMINDER FOR ALL OF US.
FOR ALL OF US. THERES PEOPLE OUT IN THIS
THERES PEOPLE OUT IN THIS WORLD.
WORLD.
AND THEYRE USING THAT INFORMATION TO DO BAD THINGS.
INFORMATION TO DO BAD THINGS. >> AS WE SIT HERE, YOURE GOING
>> AS WE SIT HERE, YOURE GOING THROUGH YOUR FACEBOOK SETTINGS
THROUGH YOUR FACEBOOK SETTINGS AND YOUR PHONE SETTINGS.
AND YOUR PHONE SETTINGS. >> I WANT TO KNOW.
>> I WANT TO KNOW. >> I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU WHEN
>> I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU WHEN WERE OFF THE AIR.
WERE OFF THE AIR. HERES ANOTHER TIP FOR YOU.
HERES ANOTHER TIP FOR YOU. WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS,
WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS, EXPERTS SAY USE THAT AS A
EXPERTS SAY USE THAT AS A REMINDER TO GO THROUGH YOUR
REMINDER TO GO THROUGH YOUR FRIENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND
FRIENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND CLEAN HOUSE.
CLEAN HOUSE. DELETE ANYONE YOURE NOT FRIENDS
DELETE ANYONE YOURE NOT FRIENDS WITH ANYMORE.
WITH ANYMORE. SOMETIMES WE COLLECT FRIENDS.
SOMETIMES WE COLLECT FRIENDS. GO THROUGH IT A COUPLE OF TILES
GO THROUGH IT A COUPLE OF TILES A
A
TIMES OF YEAR TO MAKE SURE YOU
TIMES OF YEAR TO MAKE SURE YOU
DONT HAVE STRAGGLERS YOU DONT
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