10 things you should know before posting pictures of your children on social media

It has emerged today that pictures of at least 40 Irish girls as young as 14 have been copied from social media and posted on a pornographic website without their consent. Here, we outline 10 things parents should be aware of before posting pictures of their children online and what they should know about their kid's own digital footprint.

We see it every day on our social media accounts. Friends posting pictures or video of the latest milestone in their children’s lives, such as their first steps, their first trip to the swimming pool or a joyous family holiday.

It’s understandable that proud and well-meaning parents want to record all the pertinent moments in their child’s formative and teenage years, but using social media sites to share these moments with friends and family on even ‘private’ accounts opens up a myriad of possibilities for your child to be exposed to people you have never met.