Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol, Vice Head of the Computer Engineering Department at Üsküdar University's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and Head of the Cyber Security Master's Program, evaluated the risks of children's shares on social media and online games, and the precautions families can take.
Daily life emerges when different shares are combined
Stating that children are often unaware of how much information they provide when sharing online, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said, “Even a single photo, a short video, or just a game profile can reveal many details such as the child's name, age, school attended, friend circle, neighborhood they live in, or courses they attend.”
Şenol pointed out that information should not be evaluated solely through a single share, stating that clues from different contents can be combined. He added, “For example, when a photo of the child in school uniform, a post shared after school, and a message about a course they attend with friends are put together, a very clear picture of their daily life emerges.”
Instant location shares can facilitate tracking
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said that shares revealing a child's home, school, or current location make it easier for malicious individuals to track them, noting that expressions such as “I'm at school right now” or “I'm at home” provide instant information about the child's whereabouts.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that continuous location sharing also makes daily habits visible, saying, “Details such as what time they go to school, when they leave, or which course they attend on which day can be easily put together. Therefore, it is of great importance that children do not share their instant locations and daily routines where everyone can see them.”
Even without a location tag, the photo's background provides clues
Emphasizing that simply having the location tag turned off in photos is not enough, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said, “The absence of a location tag in a photo does not mean that the place where that photo was taken cannot be found.”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that the details in the frame can make it easier to determine the child's location, and continued:
“Details in the background—a school logo, street sign, apartment name, shop, bus stop, or writing on a school service bus—provide important clues. When several different photos and shares are examined together, the child's school, the route they use, and even the neighborhood they live in can be determined. This is why, when sharing photos, attention should be paid not only to the child but also to the details remaining in the background of the frame.”
A child's face and voice can be used in fake content
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that photos, videos, and audio recordings openly shared by children can be saved and misused by others, adding that fake social media accounts could be opened or the child's identity could be impersonated with this content.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol pointed out that with artificial intelligence technologies, it has also become possible to use visuals and audio for different purposes, saying, “Content unrelated to reality can be created using a child's face or voice. Such materials can also be used for fraud, threat, or blackmail.”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol emphasized that caution should also be exercised in communication with strangers in online games.
Even if a child doesn't share, family accounts can provide information
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that children's digital privacy does not depend solely on their own behavior, and that family members' shares can also carry significant risks.
“Even if the child themselves shares nothing, posts made by family members can provide a lot of information about the child. The child's name, birthday, school, sports club they attend, neighborhood they live in, or places they vacation can be easily learned from family accounts,” said Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol, adding that having private accounts is an important but not a standalone sufficient precaution.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol reminded that shares can be screenshotted and forwarded to others, stating, “Furthermore, deleting content from the internet does not guarantee that it has not been copied before or circulated elsewhere. Therefore, the safest way is to avoid excessive information sharing from the outset.”
Location, camera, and microphone permissions should be checked
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol recommended keeping children's social media and game accounts as private as possible, controlling who can see their shares, and noted that application permissions should also be reviewed.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said, “Location access should be turned off unless absolutely necessary; if required, the application should only be given as much permission as needed. Camera and microphone permissions should also be checked on an application-by-application basis.”
Pointing to the importance of using strong and unique passwords for account security, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said, “Strong and unique passwords not used anywhere else should be chosen, and two-factor authentication should be activated if possible. Children should be taught not to share their passwords or verification codes with anyone.”
When a problem occurs, the first step should not be to blame the child!
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that families should remain calm if a child's address or school is accidentally shared or if a suspicious person contacts them, emphasizing that the initial approach should not be to blame the child.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol drew attention to the importance of preserving evidence related to suspicious communication, saying, “Evidence such as screenshots of messages, usernames, and shares should be saved immediately, the suspicious account should be reported to the platform and blocked. In cases of physical threat, stalking, blackmail, or serious danger, law enforcement should be contacted without delay.”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that the trust relationship between the child and the family is one of the fundamental elements of digital security, and concluded his words as follows:
“Most importantly, children should not feel compelled to hide a mistake from their families when they make one. Knowing that a child can share a negative situation experienced online with their family without fear is one of the most important safety precautions they can have.”
