“We want to grow together, and not apart.”
A sheriff’s warning about a popular back-to-school trend is going viral again.
In August 2024, Appling County, Georgia Sheriff Mark Melton took to Facebook to share two side-by-side photos. The photo revealed one of Melton’s deputies standing as if he were a child on their first day of school.
The deputy was holding the chalkboard sign that has become very popular in many households around the United States. However, Melton warned parents of the potential dangers these signs hold.
The sign held by the deputy revealed his first and last name and more personal information like his grade, his teacher’s name, his school’s name, and other favorites.
The tradition of these photos in particular is ment to document a child’s growth and the changes in their interests year-to-year. However, as Melton pointed out, there is some information that does not and should not be shared with the public.
In the other image, Melton removed the deputy’s last name, his school’s name, and his teacher’s name, writing that this kind of identifiable information can leave children vulnerable to bad actors.
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“With school starting back and everyone posting photos of your adorable children, please be mindful of revealing personal information about your child,” the sheriff noted in the caption on Aug. 1, 2024.
“Their full name, name of their school, grade, age and other identifying tidbits can be used by predators and scammers. The safest practice is to keep personal information to a minimum, no matter your privacy settings or friends. Have a great school year!”
So as your kids begin the school year, keep in mind the dangers that you can’t see and we wish them the best of luck in the year to come.
