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By rdnewsNOW staff

be mindful

Alberta RCMP shares online safety tips for ‘First Day of School’ posts

Sep 2, 2025 | 11:15 AM

As students return to the classroom this week, Alberta RCMP encourages parents and guardians to be mindful about what they share online, especially regarding first day of school photos.

In the last few years, it’s become popular for families to share photos of their children holding sings with fun facts like their name, age, grade, favourite things, teacher’s name and the school they attend.

Police say, while these are well intentioned, the personal details pictured can put children at risk, as strangers can use it to identify a child, learn their routines, or build a false sense of familiarity. These details could be used to approach a youth while pretending to be a family friend or trusted adult.

Whitecourt RCMP offers parents the following online safety tips to help keep kids safe:

• Avoid identifying details such as the name of your child’s school, your home address, or other personal information.
• Be mindful of the location in your image. Take pictures in locations that don’t reveal your home, neighbourhood, or other easily identifiable spots.
• Limit what you share on signs. Police recommend a generic “First Day of School” sign, rather than listing personal facts.
• Review your privacy settings and ensure your social media accounts have the highest privacy level selected before posting.
• Have ongoing safety talks with your children. Speak to them about online safety and “stranger danger,” both in-person and online. You can also establish a family safe word to help identify trusted adults they can turn to.

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Tips for children:

• Never share personal information online, such as your last name, address, school name, or other identifying details.
• Always have a parent or guardian review photos or videos before you post them.
• If something online makes you uncomfortable or feels unsafe, tell a parent or trusted adult right away.