New Advisory Calls For Safer Social Media Practices In Educational Institutions
Assam Police has issued a fresh advisory urging schools and educational institutions to exercise greater caution while sharing students’ photographs, videos and personal information on social media platforms.
The advisory comes amid growing concerns about the misuse of children’s digital content by cybercriminals and online predators. According to police, images and personal details shared online can be exploited for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), AI-generated image manipulation, impersonation, grooming, sextortion, cyberbullying and identity theft.
Educational institutions have been advised to avoid posting identifiable photographs and videos of children wherever possible. Instead, Assam Police has recommended safer alternatives such as group photographs, back-facing images, blurred visuals, illustrations and activity-based content that does not reveal the identity of individual students.
The advisory also cautions schools against publishing sensitive information, including students’ full names, class details, identity cards, phone numbers, residential addresses and transport-related information.
The initiative builds on Assam Police’s earlier #DontBeASharent campaign, which highlighted the risks associated with “sharenting” — the practice of sharing children’s photographs and personal details online without fully considering privacy, consent and long-term digital consequences.
Officials noted that while schools often share content related to celebrations, competitions, excursions and academic achievements with positive intentions, such posts can inadvertently expose children’s identities, routines and locations, creating potential security risks.
Emphasising the responsibility of educational institutions, the advisory states that schools occupy a position of trust and should adopt a child-centric approach when making decisions about online content.
The initiative has also received wider visibility after being amplified by CyberDost, the cyber-awareness platform of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The advisory has since been shared across multiple languages and has received support from educators, media organisations and law enforcement agencies.
Recognising the growing influence of the digital world on children’s well-being, Assam Police is also planning a dedicated awareness and capacity-building programme for schools. The initiative aims to help teachers identify and respond to issues such as cyberbullying, grooming, sextortion, image-based abuse, compulsive digital behaviour and exposure to harmful online communities.
The programme will introduce educators to online trauma-informed pedagogy and equip them with tools to recognise signs of digital distress, respond appropriately to online incidents, safeguard privacy and establish effective reporting mechanisms within schools. It will also address emerging threats such as AI-generated deepfakes and image morphing.
Speaking on the initiative, Harmeet Singh said that children’s online experiences have a direct impact on their emotional well-being, behaviour and learning outcomes.
“Children do not leave their online experiences outside the school gate. The internet is now an integral part of their social, emotional and educational lives, and what happens online can have a direct impact on their wellbeing, behaviour and learning,” he said.
Assam Police said future engagement with schools will focus on helping institutions develop internal social media policies, establish consent and review mechanisms, designate authorised personnel for publishing content and sensitise staff members who handle students’ personal information.
Officials said the overarching goal is to create safer digital environments where children can learn, participate and grow with dignity, privacy and security.
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