The social media hashtags putting your children at risk

As we move further into the digital age, parents are becoming more aware of how they should be monitoring their children’s activities on social media.

But how many mums and dads have stopped to consider how their own social media use could put their kids at risk?

According to Child Rescue Coalition (CRC) in the US, parents need to reconsider images and information about their children they share online, even down to the hashtags they're using.

CRC released a list of 100 hashtags used by parents that child predators have been known to track or search.

Now, the organisation has shared the hashtags to encourage parents to rethink their own social media approaches.

Tags like #nakedchild and #modellingchild were considered especially dangerous, however other tags like #bathtimefun and #toddlerbikini were also considered risky.

"To a normal person and normal friends photos picture on the beach that's cute to us cute to us might be seen very differently by predators," CRC's CEO and founder, Carly Yoost, told Good Morning America.

CRC says many child predators use social media to stalk and contact children, connect with other predators and share pornography.

"We feel we know people on our social media and only accept people we know and trust," Yoost said, but explained that predators can often seem 'normal' or hold positions of respect in society.

She advised that all parents should set their own social media accounts to private if they're sharing photos or information about their children, and should always think twice before posting.

Parents should also consider if they want whatever they're posting to become part of their child's digital profile.

Here in Australia, the Australian Federal Police's ThinkUKnow campaign is aimed at helping parents understand how young people are using social media, as well as how to manage their own online presence.

The campaign advises that parents encourage open communication with their children so that they feel safe coming to them if ever approached online.

You can report online child sexual exploitation to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) via their online form. If you think a child is in immediate danger call Triple Zero (000), Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000, or your local police.