[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5754568/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″]Religious organizations should be respectful when posting photos, videos, and audio from public events they host. Although nonprofits are exempt from the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), they should adhere to its requirements for children under thirteen to respect children’s privacy and avoid possible regulatory implications. Before posting, it’s best to obtain permission from adults and parents, which can be done by announcing that photos will be used for promotional materials and inviting those with concerns to speak with a representative or obtaining the permission on registration or permission slips. To protect privacy further, you can post only to online pages that are protected, for example a password-protected page on your organization’s site or an invitation-only Facebook page. It’s also a good idea to avoid including names in captions and file names to decrease the likelihood that someone can find the image.
Resources
- Church Website Ideas: “Does Your Website Content Violate Child Privacy Laws?“
- Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church: “Tips for Properly Posting Photos“
- United Methodist Church Communications: “Privacy and Permissions“
- ELCA resource: “Social Media and congregations“
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