How Can We Still Share the Joy of Young People Safely Online?

AI is changing the way we think about sharing images of children and young people online. So, how do we continue to celebrate them while reducing the risks that come with putting their images into the public domain?

Sharing the achievements of the girls and young people we work with is an important part of what we do. We want to celebrate their ideas, their creativity and their milestones. We also want to show other young people what is possible and help them see themselves in futures they may not have considered before.

But the technology around us is changing quickly.

AI-generated explicit imagery and deepfakes continue to grow as a threat, and images that were once considered relatively safe to share publicly can now be manipulated in ways that were difficult to imagine just a few years ago.

There is no perfect solution right now. But there are steps we can all take to reduce risk and think more carefully about the images and information we share publicly.

Here are some of the things we are doing at TECgirls and the approach we are taking ourselves.

What we are choosing not to do

Avoid unnecessary full-face images

We are increasingly careful about sharing full, front-facing images of children publicly unless there is a clear reason to do so.

Our rule of thumb is:

“Two eyes, two ears, too much.”

If you can clearly see a full face, we ask ourselves whether that image really needs to be shared publicly.

This doesn't mean we never share photographs of young people. It means we are becoming more thoughtful about which images we choose and where we choose to share them.

Don't upload children's photos into AI tools

One response to the growing risks around AI-generated imagery has been the suggestion that organisations should upload photographs of children into AI image generators and create alternative or "safer" versions of those images.

We do not believe this is the right approach.

When an image is uploaded to an AI tool, you may lose control over how that image is stored, processed or potentially used. This is particularly important when using free or unfamiliar AI tools that ask you to upload photographs.

There is also a bigger question to consider…if we are celebrating a real young person's achievements, confidence and creativity, why replace them with an AI-generated version?

We should be looking for ways to protect young people while continuing to celebrate them as themselves.

Don't rely on watermarks

Watermarks can help establish ownership of an image, but they should not be treated as a safeguarding measure.

AI tools are increasingly capable of removing or working around them, so a watermark alone cannot prevent an image from being misused.

Don't share unnecessary identifying information

Think beyond the photograph itself.

Avoid sharing unnecessary details that could make a child or young person easier to identify, such as:

• Full names

• Specific locations

• School uniforms

• Timetables or regular routines

• Other information that could be used to identify where a young person is or what they are doing

The more information that is available publicly, the easier it can be to build a picture of someone's identity and circumstances.

What we can do instead

The good news is that safer image sharing doesn't mean we have to stop celebrating young people.

In fact, it can encourage us to become more creative!

Get creative with photography

Some of our favourite images are now those that capture the activity, rather than just focusing on a face.

Think about:

• Hands building or creating

• Over-the-shoulder photographs

• Backs of heads

• Silhouettes

• Wide shots taken from a distance

• Close-ups of projects rather than faces

• Group moments where individuals aren't easily identifiable

These images can often tell a more interesting story, too. They show what young people are doing, making and experiencing, rather than simply showing who they are.

Ask whether the image needs to be public

Not every photograph needs to be shared on social media.

Before posting, ask yourself: Does this need to be public at all?

There may be safer ways to share a moment with the people who genuinely need to see it, such as:

• A parent newsletter

• A secure school platform

• A private community group

• Printed displays

• Impact reports
  

Choosing not to post something publicly doesn't make the achievement any less important.

Focus on the story, not just the face

Young people can be celebrated without making their faces the focus.

We can still celebrate the things young people have built, the challenges they have overcome and the futures they are beginning to imagine.

The story is often bigger than the photograph.

This is an evolving conversation

The technology surrounding AI is changing incredibly quickly. That means the guidance and best practice around online safety and safeguarding will continue to evolve too.

For parents and organisations working with children and young people, it can feel overwhelming. But we don't think the answer is to panic or feel guilty about photographs that have been shared in the past.

Schools, charities, youth organisations and community groups have spent years using photography to celebrate young people and show the impact of their work. We are all learning in real time as the technology around us changes.

What matters is that we keep asking questions, reviewing our practices and adapting when we learn something new.

We won't stop celebrating young people

The TECgirls team are trying to approach this calmly, thoughtfully and proactively.

We don't believe the answer is to remove girls and young people from the internet altogether. Young people deserve to be seen, celebrated and represented online. They deserve to see people like themselves taking part in technology, engineering and creative digital careers.

Instead, we want to see safer technology, better regulation and more responsible AI systems.

We want to keep sharing the joy of young people. We just want to do it in ways that put their safety first.

Let's #MakeTechSafe for everyone.