A stunningly beautiful child whose sweet smile can take just about anyone’s breath away can be both a blessing and a curse. You just can’t help but want to share them with the world, of course! And as a parent of a child model, it often comes with the territory. Posting online can work wonders to help models get noticed by casting directors and other members of the industry. Your child might even book a job after getting noticed on their socials! However, these online accounts can pose a security threat when used in unsafe ways. While a smiling selfie or a timely TikTok might seem totally innocent, identifying information can be hidden in posts and, even worse, dangerous people can lurk online. So, to help you navigate posting, we are dropping our social media safety tips for parents of child models. Keep reading for the scoop on social safety!
From babies and beyond, child models almost always have social media accounts. But how to best handle social media safety for kids all depends on your child’s age. We highly recommend that parents have access to, and even control over, their child’s social media accounts. As kids get older and want to take control themselves, the process of posting can be collaborative.
Parents should always follow their child’s accounts so they are aware of the content that is posted and can monitor for inappropriate comments or other interactions. It can also be important to monitor DMs in case your child’s account is receiving messages from bullies, scammers, or other dangerous people on the internet. In addition, be sure to have open communication with your child to teach them about the dos and don’ts of online safety.
Child model social media accounts are typically public. That means casting directors can see them (yay!). But also the whole world too. And, the content we post is out there on the web…forever. That means you need to take extra precautions with your little one’s privacy. Talk to your agent about whether to go public or stay private with your child’s accounts. Consider making kids’ personal accounts private and create a modeling account that is public, with only highly regulated content posted by parents and approved by agents.
Keep in mind that your child might not be the only kid you need to worry about. It is also important to be cautious about protecting the safety of others. Don't take and post photos with other children in them without their parents permission. And, of course, do your best to request that same courtesy from the others in your life and have them get your permission before they post any photos or videos of your child.
Positivity please!!! Make your child’s account a good-vibes-only zone. If you notice any negativity, consider restricting comments or blocking accounts that don't have nice things to say. This can protect your child and also make using social media a safer, happier experience. Unfortunately, rude commenters are not the only mean people out there who could have access to your child's social media profiles. Dangerous people use social media to try to trick, manipulate, or otherwise take advantage of vulnerable people — especially children.
For kids, it can be tricky to know the difference between a genuine person and a dangerous person. They typically want to believe that people are kind and have their best interests in mind. Just like they wouldn’t take candy from strangers, they shouldn’t accept unsolicited messages from them either. Keeping tabs on your child's social media activity is always a good idea because as an adult, you can help separate friend from foe online. A great way to promote social media safety is to make it clear that your child’s account is run by an adult in their bios. This can deter the bad guys from interacting with your child’s profile in the first place.
Hashtags can be fun, but they are designed in a way that helps new people find your posts. While this can be awesome for increasing legitimate followers, it can also attract the people you don’t want snooping around your child’s profile. Certain well-meaning hashtags or location tags can attract online bullies and even scam artists or predators who search for terms related to kids. To help protect your child, take a look at this list from Child Rescue Coalition of predator hashtags to avoid and use caution when posting with other potentially exposing hashtags or revealing information.
Keep in mind that hashtags aren't the only way for bad people to find your child’s social media profiles. Just like you would with online bullies and rude commenters, block any suspicious accounts that are interacting with the posts on your child’s profile or sliding into their DMs. Be especially cautious of scammers offering fake child modeling jobs. Always tell your agent if someone is contacting your child online for a booking so that they can assess the legitimacy of the person, company, and job. If your agent can't reach the company requesting the job through a phone number or email address on the company’s website to confirm the legitimacy of the job, it is almost definitely a scam.
Did you know that files you share on the internet can contain hidden personal data? Tapping “share” on a photo of your child eating ice cream in your kitchen could actually provide personal data of the location, date, or time the photo was taken, potentially exposing your home address and other information. Luckily, most social media sites strip the photo’s personal data. However, it is always important to check which sites attempt to preserve your safety (and how) and which ones don’t. If you aren't sure, be sure to make sure the data is removed before posting online.
Equally as important, never post a photo or video of an identifiable public place while you or your child are still there or intend to return. Yes, that means waiting until after you get home from vacation to post! Anything that can tell strangers online where your child is located is a big no no — especially if the place is somewhere your child frequently visits, like a school or dance studio. So, be sure to make sure photos, videos, tags, or captions that are posted online do not have descriptions or other content that could identify your child, their location, or otherwise put their safety at risk. Make a conscious decision about whether to edit out any street signs, house numbers, the name of a school or sports club, location-branded clothes, and other details that might reveal your child’s personal information or location. Safety first!
At Bensimon Models and Talent, our top priority is always your child’s well-being. Whether it is online or on a job, we are always here to help you make child modeling as positive and safe of an experience as possible. For more social media safety tips, reach out to your agent who can help you navigate the fun, yet sometimes confusing landscape of social media, so you can go on sharing your shining star with the world.
