Posting names and pictures of children under 13

Looking for guidance on what I should post

[bollella]

I've recently taken over the webmaster responsibilities for two websites for my daughter's competitive swimming club. This is a nationally ranked with children of all ages.

I've been getting requests to post pictures and names of kids under 13 that have done great thing, like break a national record.

I've looked at the COPPA stuff and that doesn't seem to apply because we are not *collecting* the information online but simply posting information generated through the club activities.

Where can I look for guidelines, permission processes and forms, etc.

Thanks,

Greg Bollella

[jtara]

Aside from legal issues, I would suggest preventing hotlinking. Given the subject matter, it's easy to imagine where hotlinks will come from... I'll give you a clue - it won't be from competing swim clubs.

Of course, this won't prevent direct links. I would watch your logs, pay attention to referral sources, and I'll bet you will eventually see some some more-than-shady referrers. Ban them.

Unfortunately, may be more trouble than it's worth. Will take some good webmaster skills and diligence. Do you want to feel responsible for attracting stalkers?

I know, I know, proud parents post pictures of their kids all over the net. How much thought are they putting into the implications? But at least on the social-networking sites, they are relatively anonymous. Presumably, this will have names, and general location will be known from context.

[Marcia]

You need to get a written release from the parents. I'd check into all the legal aspects carefully. And also, if you haven't already, if you do some keyword research, it's *shocking* (and appalling) what search terms are looked for.

[Rosalind]

Avoid posting pictures and names of young children online, especially in a public area. I don't think there are many specific guidelines on this above and beyond COPPA, but this is an area where the law doesn't exactly keep pace with technology. Where parents might have felt okay about having their children's pictures in the local paper, the same shouldn't necessarily apply to the internet.

What you can do is set up a registration-only area, and provide slightly more information for swimming club members.