Online predators raise alarm over everyday school snapshots

The statistics are staggering and heartbreaking in equal measure. In just 12 months, reports of online child sexual exploitation to Australian authorities have jumped by a devastating 41 per cent, with the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation receiving 82,764 reports in 2024/25 compared to 58,503 reports the previous year.

But here's what makes this crisis particularly insidious—many of the photos ending up in predators' collections aren't stolen from dark corners of the internet.

They're innocent family snaps shared with love by parents, grandparents, and extended family members on everyday social media platforms.

If you're a grandparent who delights in sharing photos of your grandchildren's milestones, sporting achievements, or school days, this isn't about shaming your pride and joy. It's about understanding how our digital world has changed and ensuring those precious memories stay safe from those who would exploit them.

When Love Becomes Liability: The Hidden Dangers of Family Sharing

AFP Commander Helen Schneider has confirmed that investigators regularly see 'instances of otherwise innocent images being used in child exploitation material or offenders using information from photos, such as school uniforms, to identify and groom children'.

The photos that bring us such happiness—a grandchild's first day at school, their winning goal at Saturday sport, or a family barbecue in the backyard—can contain a treasure trove of information for those with malicious intent.

Consider this scenario from the AFP: A parent excitedly posts their child's first-day-of-school photo on Facebook, forgetting their profile is set to public.

The image shows their child in a school uniform, holding a bag with the school logo, standing in front of the school building.

Within hours, predators have identified the child's age, school location, and potentially where they live. Suddenly, that proud moment becomes a roadmap for potential exploitation.

The problem extends beyond identification. In June 2024, about 50 girls from Melbourne discovered that photos from their social media profiles had been stolen and manipulated using AI to create sexually explicit deepfakes, which were then circulated online.

These weren't suggestive images to begin with—they were ordinary photos that predators transformed using increasingly sophisticated technology.

The 'Grandsharenting' Generation: New Risks for Older Australians

The term 'grandsharenting' describes the growing trend of grandparents sharing photos and information about their grandchildren online. While research shows parents share an average of about 300 photos of their children online each year, grandparents often have different social media habits that can inadvertently increase risks.

Many grandparents approach social media with the same openness they'd show when sharing photo albums with neighbours over the back fence. But that digital back fence extends across the globe, and not everyone looking over it has good intentions.

The generational gap in digital literacy isn't about intelligence—it's about growing up in different eras. Those who mastered rotary phones and film cameras are now navigating facial recognition technology and data mining. The learning curve is steep, and the stakes are higher than ever.

When Technology Becomes the Enemy: The AI Threat

The digital landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years. Personal photos of Australian children are being scraped off the web into large datasets that companies use to train artificial intelligence tools, which others then use to create malicious deepfakes that put even more children at risk of exploitation and harm.

Human Rights Watch found 190 photos of Australian children from all states and territories in just one AI training dataset, though this represents less than 0.0001 per cent of the 5.85 billion images contained in the dataset. The scope of the problem is almost incomprehensible.

These aren't just statistics—they represent real Australian families. The photos captured intimate moments, including babies being born, young children at preschools, children dressed for Book Week, girls in swimsuits at school swimming carnivals, and First Nations children from various communities.

Government Action: New Laws Coming December 2025

The Australian Government has recognised the severity of this crisis. Social media age restrictions for Australians under 16 are due to take effect by 10 December 2025, implemented under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024.

These laws place the responsibility on social media platforms—not young people or their parents—to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts, with systemic breaches resulting in fines up to $49.5 million.

The minimum age will apply to platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

However, the law won't protect children from photos shared by well-meaning adults on their own accounts. This is where family education and awareness become crucial.

The Predator Playbook: How Innocent Photos Become Dangerous

Understanding how predators operate helps families protect themselves. The AFP has identified several concerning patterns:

The Sports Club Scam: A parent posts a photo of their child in sporting gear. An offender reaches out claiming to represent a sportswear company, offering free equipment in exchange for photos of the child wearing it in athletic poses.

The parent, believing they're helping their child's sporting career, unknowingly provides images that end up in global networks of exploitation.

The Information Harvest: Australian children as young as eight are being coerced into performing live-streamed sexual acts by online predators, with hundreds of thousands of children potentially affected globally. Many victims believe they're interacting with peers rather than adults.

The Long Game: Predators often don't immediately exploit photos. They collect them over time, building profiles of children and waiting for opportunities. A photo of a child at age five might not be misused until they're older, but the information gathered early helps predators track and target them.

Your Digital Defence Strategy: Practical Steps for Protection

The good news is that families can take concrete steps to protect themselves without giving up the joy of sharing special moments.

Privacy Settings That Actually Work

Always enable strong privacy settings on games and apps children use, as these services typically offer options to control how much information other people can see or make contact with your child. But privacy settings aren't just for children's accounts—they're crucial for adult family members too.

Facebook Privacy Essentials:

• Set posts to 'Friends Only' rather than public
• Review tagged photos before they appear on your timeline
• Limit who can see your friends list
• Turn off facial recognition features
• Check your privacy settings monthly as platforms change their defaults

Instagram Safety Steps:

• Switch to a private account
• Turn off location services for posts
• Review follower requests carefully
• Use the 'Close Friends' feature for family photos
• Avoid using hashtags that could identify locations

The Five-Question Safety Check

Before posting any photo of a child, ask yourself:

• What information is visible? Check for school uniforms, house numbers, street signs, or other identifying details
• Who can see this? Review your privacy settings and understand your audience
• Would I hand this photo to a stranger? If not, reconsider posting it online
• Does this show the child in a vulnerable state? Avoid photos of children in swimwear, underwear, or during bath time
• Have I asked permission? For older children, involve them in decisions about what gets shared

When Families Disagree: Navigating Generational Differences

Family disagreements about social media sharing are increasingly common. The key is approaching these conversations with empathy and understanding.

For Parents Concerned About Grandparents' Sharing:

Start by acknowledging the love and pride behind the posts. Explain your concerns clearly and offer specific alternatives. Perhaps suggest a private family group or direct messaging instead of public posts.

For Grandparents Learning New Rules:

Think of this like other safety updates you've adapted to over the years—car seats, smoke detectors, pool fences. The principles of protecting children remain the same; only the methods have evolved.

Technology Trends: What's Coming Next

The threat landscape continues evolving. The ACCCE receives around 300 reports of sextortion targeting children each month, and new technologies create new risks almost daily.

Deepfake technology is becoming more sophisticated and accessible. What required expensive software and technical expertise just a few years ago can now be done with smartphone apps. This means any photo, no matter how innocent, could potentially be manipulated.

Voice cloning technology is also advancing rapidly. Predators might soon be able to create fake phone calls that sound like trusted family members, using audio clips from shared videos.

The Support Network: Resources for Australian Families

Despite the risks, just over half of parents and carers talk to their children regularly about online safety [16]. This needs to change, and Australia has excellent resources to help.

ThinkUKnow Australia is the country's leading online safety education program, delivered by the Australian Federal Police. As the only nationally delivered, law enforcement-led online safety program, ThinkUKnow aims to increase education and awareness among the most influential figures in a young person's life, with the program running since 2009.

The program offers:

• School presentations for students
• Resources for parents and carers
• Toolkits for teachers
• Real case studies from AFP investigations
• Age-appropriate guidance from early childhood through teenagers

eSafety Commissioner provides comprehensive guidance on privacy settings, reporting mechanisms, and family safety strategies. Their website includes specific sections for seniors and grandparents.

Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) offers reporting mechanisms and support resources for families affected by online exploitation.

Warning Signs: When to Seek Help

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, children may encounter online predators. Warning signs include incoming friend requests from strangers or people pretending to be friends with your child, sudden sexualised questions, conversations, or photos from random profiles, who then ask for some in return.

Other concerning behaviours include:

• Secretive behaviour around devices
• Receiving unexpected gifts or money
• Emotional distress after using devices
• Reluctance to discuss online activities
• Changes in sleep patterns or mood
• New adult 'friends' that family doesn't know

If you notice these signs, approach the situation calmly. Children often feel ashamed or worried they'll be in trouble. Focus on supporting them rather than restricting their access to technology.

The Bigger Picture: Community Responsibility

This isn't just about individual families making better choices. AFP Commander Helen Schneider emphasises the need for a 'whole-of-community response' to tackle this criminal scourge.

When we understand the risks and share information responsibly, we're not just protecting our own families—we're contributing to a safer digital environment for all Australian children.

The 41 per cent increase in reports isn't necessarily all bad news. It might also reflect increased awareness and reporting by community members who now recognise concerning behaviour. Every report helps law enforcement understand the scope of the problem and develop better protection strategies.

Moving Forward: Hope and Vigilance

The digital world isn't going to become less complicated, but Australian families don't have to navigate it alone. Government agencies, law enforcement, and community organisations are working together to create safer online environments for children.

The new social media age restrictions coming in December 2025 represent a significant step forward, but they're not a complete solution. Family education, community awareness, and individual vigilance remain crucial components of keeping children safe.

As grandparents, parents, and extended family members, we have the power to protect the children we love while still celebrating their achievements and milestones. It requires learning new skills, adjusting old habits, and having sometimes difficult conversations—but the safety of our children is worth every effort.

The predators lurking online count on our ignorance and complacency. By understanding their tactics, securing our accounts, and sharing information responsibly, we deny them the easy targets they seek. Your family photos can continue to be sources of joy and connection—just with better digital boundaries.

Remember: love doesn't require a public audience. The most precious family moments can be shared safely with those who matter most, without broadcasting them to the world. In protecting our children's digital footprints today, we're giving them the power to control their own online identity as they grow up.

What steps will you take this week to strengthen your family's digital safety? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—together, we can build a safer online community for all Australian children.