Sunshine and Sunscreens: How to Protect Your Family from Social Media Threats

RING… ding… buzz… chime…As the school bells fade and the hot, sunny days of summer persist, a familiar scene is now unfolding across the country: kids, freed from the classroom, find themselves already bored. If this sounds all too familiar, then please keep reading. If your kids are like many others, they’re turning to their screens and social media for their summertime playgrounds. However, what starts as innocent fun could quickly turn into a pool of risks—not only for your children, but also for you, your family, and even your assets.

Diving into the dangers of your children’s online activities

While social media platforms can provide opportunities for connection and entertainment for your children, numerous studies and incidents have uncovered these harmful risks: 

Mental health: Frequent social media use among children has been shown to increase their likelihood of experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Social media use is also linked to increased suicide rates among children—with many reported to have seriously considered attempting suicide and having made a suicide plan. 

Cyberbullying: Social media and gaming platforms can be breeding grounds for cyberbullying, where children may experience harassment, threats, or humiliation from their peers. Cyberbullying is one of the more common issues we hear about today. About 50% of children have been targeted by cyberbullies, and 26.5% of adolescents report experiencing cyberbullying in the last month.

Slander and reputational damage: People today are often quick to judge and let the world know about it via social media, children and teens often lack real-world knowledge of their posts' potential ramifications. Questionable photos and derogatory words not only put a child’s character at risk but may also impact your reputation, relationship with clients, business activity, board affiliations, and more. Additionally, any inappropriate posts and pictures on social media can have long-lasting consequences, including affecting future activities (such as scholarships for athletics, music, or the arts), educational opportunities, and employment prospects.

Personal security: Children may unknowingly share personal information, such as their full name, address, or contact details, on social media platforms. They could even post that they are home alone or share pictures of your home and its high-value contents (large electronics, artwork, jewelry, etc.). This can make them and your lifestyle vulnerable to burglars and kidnappers. One study showed that 88% of X (formerly Twitter) profiles are public, with 66% of users including their location in bios, making them easy targets for burglars. Burglars can also use geo-tagging and social media posts to plan their entry and exit strategies effectively during a burglary, which can take about 10 minutes if the house is unoccupied.

Inappropriate content: Children may come across inappropriate or explicit content while using social media. The FBI estimates there are about 500,000 online sexual predators at any given time. In 2023, over 36 million reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation were made. 

Vacation vibes can turn into virtual dangers

Many families take vacations during the summer months and often share memories through pictures and posts on social media apps. While this may seem innocent enough, it’s important to be aware that posting plans and photos before and during your summer vacation could increase the following risks:

Home burglary: Posting your vacation plans before you leave or sharing pictures while you’re away can inform criminals when your home may be empty. Clever burglars often scan social media posts for GPS location tags. Once they see you’re away from your home, your cars and other property are at risk of theft. Household property crimes, including burglary and motor vehicle theft, tend to have higher rates during the summer months, with home burglaries being 11% more common in the summer than at other times due to increased vacations among homeowners and warmer weather.

Over the past year, numerous stories have emerged of cybercriminals using the social media accounts of celebrities and popular athletes to orchestrate high-profile thefts at their homes, highlighting a broader risk for all social media users.
 

Liability: You or a family member could be at a popular tourist attraction, museum, or on private property and innocently take a selfie that also shares some background images. Posting private property without permission can infringe upon privacy and copyright laws. If other people are in the background, it could also lead to legal issues regarding privacy and consent, as sharing pictures of other individuals without their approval may be considered a breach.

Safety: Sharing and posting vacation pictures in real-time shows everyone your location via geotags and GPS locators, which can alert criminals and kidnappers to your whereabouts. This is particularly concerning for high-net-worth families who could be at risk for kidnapping and ransom situations, in addition to personal theft at their vacation accommodations. A recent study shared that more than 75% of convicted burglars believe social media is a key tool for identifying targets.

Wading through the social media laws

At the federal level, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), enacted in 1998, requires websites targeting children under 13 to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting any information. However, as social media platforms have evolved, this legislation has shown limitations for online activity. In 2023 and 2024, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) was introduced to extend the ages covered by federal privacy laws and impose stricter regulations on social media companies and their collection of information. 

In the meantime, while these federal laws provide some framework, a handful of states are taking their own measures to protect kids from the emotional and mental harm caused by the collection of their information. Some states are also expanding the definition of a child and broadening the scope of acceptable information collection from social media providers, including the use of geotagging. 

Murky waters when it comes to parental responsibilities

Social media use is not only transforming children’s online experiences, but it has also challenged parental responsibilities and liabilities. Parents are increasingly finding themselves entangled in legal issues arising from their children’s online activities.

In the case of Boston v. Athearn, the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed that parents can be held negligent for their children’s defamatory social media and Facebook posts if they fail to respond appropriately upon being informed of their children’s harmful actions.

Legal interpretations at both the federal and state levels continue to heighten the stakes for parents, making it increasingly important to have adequate insurance coverage, as well as access to legal guidance. 

Using the appropriate insurance “sunscreen” for protection

To protect your assets and reputation from your family’s social media harm and home burglary threats, you may consider several types of insurance:

Personal liability insurance can cover legal costs and damages if someone is sued for defamation or other claims arising from social media activity. This type of insurance is crucial for safeguarding your reputation against false statements or harmful content shared online.

Cyber liability insurance protects against data breaches and cyberattacks. This insurance can help cover the costs associated with recovering from a cyber incident, including legal fees, notification costs, and public relations efforts aimed at reducing reputational damage.

Homeowners or renters' insurance can provide coverage for personal property loss due to theft or robbery. This insurance typically covers the replacement of stolen items and may also include liability protection if someone is injured on the property.

Identity theft insurance can help individuals recover from the financial impact of identity theft, which can be worsened by social media exposure. This insurance often includes services for credit monitoring and identity restoration.

Stay cool in the shade and shield your family with these risk mitigation tips

Communication is the most valuable tool for protecting your family from social media risks. Overall, it’s essential to help your kids understand the dangers of social media and the consequences of their online actions, and to teach them to be cautious about what they say and post. 

Use the following tips to help guide your family conversations and minimize the risks you may face when posting or sharing summer vacation plans and other information:

• Monitor your kids’ online activities, establish guidelines, use parental controls, and teach them how to handle and report instances of cyberbullying or inappropriate content.
• Explain to your children the importance of not sharing pictures of your home, their current status (like being home alone), or plans to meet up with friends on their social media apps. 
• Review the privacy settings on all your family’s social media apps. Limit them to trusted friends and family members. 
• Keep your personal information, such as your birthday and address, off your social media profiles.
• Use private internet connections. Even while traveling, it’s important to find connections with secure settings.
• Disable location tracking or any location data being shared on your devices.
• Avoid sharing or posting specific travel plans, locations, and dates. While it’s fun to share your travel experiences, it’s best to be vague about them.
• Ensure you have the necessary privacy rights or property permissions when sharing content, as well as the consent of anyone else in the pictures.
• Wait until after your vacation to share pictures, reducing the risk of becoming a target while away.
• Avoid “tagging” your current location or other people while you’re away—it can expose them to risks as well.

Arranging for appropriate insurance coverages to align with proper limits of liability can help your family avoid significant financial loss due to potential missteps across the various risks we have detailed in this article.