Parents, schools and clubs regularly post images of children to social media platforms and websites.

While this may support connection with family and friends, promote school or sports activities or celebrate children’s achievements, there can be unintended consequences.

In its latest advice, the eSafety Commissioner notes how the rise of AI tools has “significantly escalated” safety risks around sharing photos and videos online.

On Tuesday, the eSafety Commissioner said it had seen a rise in reports of imagery harvested from school social media accounts or websites being used in AI-generated abuse.

What role do trusted adults play in making children visible online? And what should parents think about before they post images of their kids?

Read more: Schools need parent permission to put students’ photos on social media. 3 questions to ask before you say yes

Legally, parents can post almost any photo of their child online and authorise others to do the same. Abusive or exploitative photos are still subject to criminal law. But an average embarrassing moment likely falls short of “serious harm” outlined by the Online Safety Act.

But while Australian privacy laws treat these photos and videos primarily as personal information (and so up to parents to decide), research increasingly recognises the situation is more complex. In an old family album, a photo records a private memory. Online, it constructs a public identity.

Policy-makers are also starting to recognise that children’s right to participate in........

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