TWO PLACES I’D NEVER SHARE MY FAMILY OR CHILDREN’S PHOTOS.
The other day as I was doom scrolling through some of my favorite social media groups. A post popped up of a sweet mama asking for a “this or that” opinion on a family selfie vs. an image that had been reconstructed by Photoshop or AI from her original photo. My heart sank when I saw they had submitted the image to a “Free Photo Edits” group. The comments on her post came flooding in.
- "Both look great!”
- “This surprisingly doesn’t look AI.”
- “It might be AI, but it looks more professional.”
- “I actually like the real life look better.”
But not one single red flag warning. So I added one.… Now I’m going to add one here. I often step on my “support artists over AI” soapbox, but my heart wasn’t just heavy that she didn’t hire a photographer. It was the reminder most people completely overlook the danger of some free resources, AI tools and apps. “Free and convenient” often tends to dilute the reality of the risks.
As a professional portrait photographer of 17 years I wanted to talk a little about two specific places I would never submit ANY of my photos, let alone images including my child(ren). This topic is not fun and glamorous, but it holds so much weight in regards to safety. Therefore, I think it’s incredibly important to share with parents, grandparents, and businesses who work with children.
FREE PHOTO EDITING GROUPS
Free editing groups can be found by the hundreds on Facebook and other platforms. They seem harmless. Especially when at worst you see comical edits of people “twisting” requests into absurd but silly results. The problem here isn’t what you see, but what you don’t see.
These groups are typically 100% public. Anyone and everyone can join without being reviewed. They reach hundreds of thousands, or even MILLIONS, of members from all over the world. Often times once the groups get so big the administrators completely give up monitoring activity. Sometimes the group even gets hijacked so scammers or bot accounts are running them instead of administrators. So when you share your image to the group you’re giving instant open access to people who most definitely don’t have the best interest in mind for you or your child(ren.)
The second issue is you’re giving written and implied permission for anyone in the group to save your photo to their devices and edit it however they please. This can also be a breach of copyright agreement if you’re submitting professional photography. However, more concerning, it’s an effortless place for predators to hang out. They can quickly and easily get a collection of images to alter and distribute however and wherever they choose. It’s one of the easiest places they can obtain images to be made into obscene content.
Photo editing groups are also a place for fake monetized pages to easily secure content for the sole purpose of making money. For example, let’s pretend you share an image of your child with your new golden retriever puppy that needs an edit. There’s thousands of fake social media pages dedicated to various specific interests - like golden retrievers dog pages. So they take your images to make a post about any topic they choose - even dicey controversial ones. It gains them likes, follows, comments, shares, messages, etc. which they’re then paid for by Facebook, Instagram, etc for the post engagement. They make money off of your image, spread false info/stories, and just like in the Free Editing Groups, your photos are now exposed to a much broader audience you have no control over.
AI Generator Example
AI PHOTO GENERATORS
Photo generator apps/sites in many ways feel safe, because the app is essentially owned by a company of sorts. You may have to, or have the option to, create an account with a password. Which can also make apps feel more secure. So what’s the red flag here?
An app or site being owned by a company doesn’t mean they’re a “good” company. AI Photo generators are specifically taking your child’s face or likeness and handing it over to a random tech company to do with as they please. In some respects these apps are worse than the Free Editing Groups, because you’re legally signing a contract before submitting your images.
Remember that little box you checked that said “By using this app/site I agree to the TERMS AND CONDITIONS?” You just signed a digital contract…..Did you read it??
They can now use anything from your uploaded photos including visual data, metadata and more. And when I say they’re “taking your child’s face” I mean that literally. Your child’s face geometry and unique features have now been analyzed, scanned and stored for future access. Now your child’s face and likeness can be used in ANY generated content for that company, as well as any subsidiary they own, or partner they sell to. Other identifying or private information may be also be pulled from your image, as AI will also analyze background details from the photo to help create content. Let’s go even a step further. EVERY photo has metadata (digitally embedded details.) They access your metadata to find info like your location (geotag), keywords that describe what’s in the photo, and even added captions.
There is not ANY AI generated photo cute enough that would convince me to hand over my child’s face willingly to a company I don’t know, that specifically exploits my images at their whim. These apps are “just for fun” until your child’s identity, location and overall safety is breached accidentally or sold — and it was all given away willingly for a cute picture to share on social media. I realize that may sound harsh, but I can’t express the gravity of it any other way.
THE TAKE-A-WAY
It’s important to consider safety in every aspect when it comes to our children (and ourselves) on the internet. I highlight these specific concerns, because it’s two of the easiest ways we give away too much — even if inadvertently. Our personal accounts, and even business pages, have various ways of throwing up safeguards for privacy. These apps, sites and groups do not, and they thrive under the veil of being “harmless, fun and free.” I encourage guardians to reconsider the real cost of openly giving away your child digitally in these aspects. Because it can truly be as bad as it sounds…Or worse.
