The Australian Federal Police (AFP)parents that “happy snaps of smiling students” in back-to-school photos are at risk of being used in online child abuse material.
The AFP said school photos are iof “highly sexualised and inappropriate comments or role-play”.
Authorities have also asked parents to talk to their children about how they use the internet, particularly during and after school holidays.
Protection
AFP Human Exploitation Commander Helen Schneider reminded parents that “small actions can mitigate big risks”.
“Something as simple as blurring or obscuring the logo of your child’s school on their uniform or in the background of an image can help ensure they don’t become a target,” Schneider said.
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“Seemingly innocuous details – such as a… favourite hobby or a street address visible on the front door – can enable offenders to build a profile of the child with the intent of grooming them,” she added.
Online abuse
During the 2023/24 financial year, the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received almost 59,000 reports of online child sexual exploitation.
This marked a 45% increase from the previous year.
Since the ACCCE began its operations in 2018, it has recorded a year-on-year increase in the number of reports.
These reports also increased around school holidays, when many children have less supervision over their internet use.
