Warning to parents over 'sharenting' social media trend putting children at risk of danger
Social media is inescapable in this day and age- around 1.3 billion photos are shared on Instagram every day, and there are around 600 million monthly users on X. But sharing pictures and information online can be dangerous, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence.
It's vital to be careful about what you're posting online, particularly if you have children. And AI experts at AIPRM have shared some information on why you should avoid oversharing on social media.
Here are five risks associated with posting pictures and information online, and what you can do to keep yourself and your children safe.
1. Dangers of oversharing about your child
Often known as 'sharenting', it is becoming increasingly common for parents to share screeds of information about their children via social media.
But Christoph advises parents to be vigilant: 'Cyber crime is rising rapidly, and exposing your child's details online could see them fall victim to fraud or other crimes.
"If you want to share images or details on your child's activities, it is always best to do this in private group chats with people you trust. I would always advise avoiding sharing this information on social media, due to the risks involved."
2. Identity theft
All social media pages and accounts host a gold mine of personal information for criminals such as names, date of birth, home location, places of work, and even the details of our family, friends and kids.
Christoph advises: 'The host of readily available personal information on social media has made it even easier for criminals to carry out identity theft, and with the rise of AI's capabilities, this is even quicker to do.
"By combining real data with fabricated details, AI can be used to generate realistic IDs, official documents, or utility bills. This makes identity theft much harder to detect.
"That's why it's crucial to think carefully about what you share online - not just to protect your own privacy, but also the security of your family and friends, who could be targeted by a fake version of you.'
3. Social engineering and financial scams
Social engineering often involves attackers creating fraudulent social media profiles and using these to impersonate a trusted or legitimate individual or organisation.
Through this, they can psychologically manipulate victims into sharing information or clicking on links that are unsafe and contain malware or scams.
Christoph states: "Always be cautious when engaging with people on social media, and if they claim to be someone you know, be sure to ask them personal questions that only they would know the answer to.'
4. Deepfakes and voice cloning
Scammers need just three seconds of audio to clone a person's voice, and with so many videos available on social media, it is becoming even easier for criminals to generate voice clones.
Similarly, the wide array of selfies on social media has fuelled AI- powered scams.
From a single image of your face, fraudsters can use AI to create a full photo, complete with a natural looking background and other aspects that appear authentic.
'Deepfakes are becoming widespread, and with our voices and images often available on social media, millions are at risk of becoming victims," says the expert.
"To protect yourself, make sure that those you follow on social media and allow to view your content are people you know and trust. Having a publicly open profile increases your risk of being targeted.
"If you think you have been a victim of a deepfake, contact your local fraud centre as soon as possible to report it.'
5. Reputation damage
Oversharing on social media also carries the risk of personal or professional reputation damage. Engaging with the wrong things on social media can create a negative image of the user.
The AI expert says: "Many people have fallen into the trap of engaging with this content, whether it be an AI generated image, or a fake article.
"Always fact check any news or sources you see on social media via trusted and reputable sites, as unverified online information could be fake, and may even include fraudulent links."
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