The Internet can be pretty weird, but “digital kidnapping” is about as weird as it gets. Internet “kidnappers” pilfer photos of other peoples’ kids, then share them acting as if the kidnappers are the parents. It’s called babyrp, short for baby roleplay. It can range from bizarre and arguably harmless to downright awful, with kids abused as part of a sexual narrative. I was on the TODAY show recently discussing the phenomenon. Click on the video link above, and you’ll hear from a mom who had to deal with her child being digitally kidnapped recently.
What do you need to know about this? If you’ve ever been on the fence about sharing photos of your kids online, this might push you over it. At a bare minimum. this is a good time to check your privacy settings and see what you’re sharing with the universe. Remember, the Internet is forever. The moment you click post or send, you’ve relinquished control over who will get to see and use whatever photo you are sharing.
You should at least ask yourself how you would explain to your child 10 or 20 years from now the privacy decisions you make today.
I hate that families can’t feel safe sharing cute pictures with the grandparents, who might live far away. But it is reality. The Internet is pretty weird.
To learn more about digital kidnapped, read this Washington Post story.
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