BC Sheriff's Back to School Social Media Tips

Buncombe County -- August 17, 2023:Before you post an adorable back-to-school photo of your child holding a “first day of school” sign.

Take caution, and read these tips to ensure your child's safety on social media.

𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞-𝗧𝗢-𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗜𝗣𝗦

Avoid sharing personal details about your child. Back-to-school photos often involve kids holding a board with their full name, age, height, and other details. Scammers or predators could use this information to commit identity theft or earn your child’s trust.

Leave off information about kids' schools. Even sharing the name of your child’s school, teacher, or grade level could make them a target. Not to mention, these details are often used as security questions for banking or credit card accounts.

Double-check your privacy settings. Review your social media account’s privacy settings regularly. Be mindful of whom can view your posts. You may want to remove personal information from your account that others can see, such as your telephone number or address.

Watch out for phony friend requests. Don’t accept friend requests from strangers. Also, think twice before you accept a friend request from someone you are already connected with. It could be an impostor trying to access your information and friends list.